Category: NSW News

Much-needed boating infrastructure and dredging works will be delivered across NSW, with a $44 million funding boost from the NSW Government to improve safety and accessibility for all water users.

The new Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme was announced today by NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen at the Sydney International Boat Show.

The program will allocate $28 million towards public boating amenities over four years and $16 million for dredging at key locations along the NSW coast.

The scheme consists of infrastructure and dredging sub-programs:

• Boating Infrastructure for Communities – this grants program will target improved access for older boaters and boaters with a disability.
• Boating Infrastructure Maintenance – a grants program providing funding for minor repair and maintenance works on boating infrastructure owned by councils and community groups across NSW.
• Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Scheme – funding support to repair and replace assets impacted by natural disasters and severe weather events.
• Dredging Program – funding to deliver new dredging projects at priority sites critical to boating and safe waterway navigation, as well as continuing committed dredging projects at Swansea, Myall River, Ettalong and Coffs Harbour.

Registrations of interest for the grants programs will be open later this year, with successful applicants to be announced in 2025.

The funding boost improves upon the previous Boating Now program, following an independent review completed in September 2023, which heard from the boating community on a wide range of matters.

Transport for NSW Maritime, in partnership with Marine Rescue, NSW Police and the Boating Industry Association, have committed to working towards a target of zero deaths and serious injuries on NSW Waterways by 2056.

For more information on the new Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme, visit Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme | Transport for NSW.
 

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“Our state’s waterways are the most beautiful in the world, and this program will support local communities to plan for, build and maintain waterways infrastructure to keep it safe and accessible for people now and into the future.

“This new scheme re-invests boating fees into public infrastructure upgrades, maintenance and dredging for our waterways.

“As well as benefiting boaters by giving waterway users better access and facilities, these grants will make our harbours and foreshore precincts even more usable and attractive.”

NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said:

“Transport for NSW Maritime has taken this opportunity to improve our grants programs, with a renewed focus on safety and accessibility for boaters of all ages and abilities.

“We’ve listened to the feedback from the boating community, which highlighted the need for continued investment to support maintenance of local boating infrastructure.

“We’re excited for the future of our boating industry, and these new programs will be crucial in keeping NSW waterways in the best shape possible with better infrastructure and more dredging.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to address the impacts of harmful online content on young people, and its role in normalising unacceptable behaviour, with New South Wales to become the first state to hold an inquiry of this type into the impacts of harmful pornography.

The Attorney General has today written to Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues, the Hon Dr Sarah Kaine, to request the Committee inquire into and report on the impacts of harmful pornography, including pornography that is violent and misogynistic, on mental, emotional and physical health.

This announcement follows growing community concern about the exposure of children to violence and extreme pornography.

In 2023 an eSafety Commissioner report found that 75% of 16-18 year olds surveyed in Australia had seen online pornography before, and nearly one third of those had seen it before the age of 13.

Further, the report highlighted that studies point to a common and readily accessible ‘mainstream’ form of pornography which often contains depictions of sexual violence and degrading sexual scripts about women.

The inquiry will also report on the production and dissemination of deepfake or AI-generated pornography, impacts on minority groups including but not limited to First Nations, CALD and LGBTIQA+ people and people living with a disability; and the effectiveness of current restrictions on access to pornography and consideration of any need to improve these.

As the NSW Government continues to work to address the scourge of domestic, family and sexual violence on communities across the state, the normalisation of misogynistic and violent acts online being easily accessible by young people in their formative years must be under the microscope.

The findings of the Committee report will be carefully considered in this context.

Terms of Reference:

The Standing Committee on Social Issues will inquire into the impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional and physical health, with particular reference to:

1. Age of first exposure to pornography and impacts of early exposure to pornography; 
2. Media by which pornography is accessed and circulated; 
3. Impacts on body impact; 
4. The relationship between pornography use and respect and consent education; 
5. The production and dissemination of deepfake or AI-generated pornography; 
6. The impact of exposure to violence and/or misogynistic pornography on children, teenagers and young adults; 
7. Impacts on minority groups including but not limited to First Nations, CALD or LGBTIQA+ people and people living with disability;  
8. Effectiveness of any current education programs about use and misuse of pornography, and how these may be improved; 
9. The effectiveness of current restrictions on access to pornography and consideration of any need to improve these;  
10. The resources and support currently available to parents and carers to educate children about pornography, and how these might be improved 
11. Any other related matters. 

Attorney General, Michael Daley said:

“A generation of young men are growing up with unprecedented access to the online world, and this includes early and easy access to pornography, with harmful depictions of the treatment of women.

“This inquiry, will for the first time in our state provide insight into the full impacts of harmful pornography online and young people’s access to it.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“We must address the scourge of domestic violence and sexual assault from every angle, and importantly that includes the normalisation of misogyny and violence online.

“The ease at which children and young people are able to access this content is extremely concerning and it is vital we undertake this inquiry and continue this important conversation.”

New South Wales Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr. Hannah Tonkin said:

“Children are being exposed, often inadvertently, to extreme forms of pornography. The increasingly young age of exposure is concerning because pornography often contains harmful messages and representations that normalise violence against women. This exposure comes at a crucial time in children’s lives when they are developing attitudes about gender roles, sex and relationships. There is an urgent need to improve our understanding of the impacts this is having on attitudes and behaviour, particularly those of boys and young men. I welcome this timely inquiry and look forward to its findings.”

The NSW Government has today released its initial response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, committing to meaningful change.

To honour those who bravely shared their stories for the Royal Commission, the NSW Government is seizing the opportunity to re-shape the disability service system, increase inclusion and improve outcomes for all people with disability.

Since the Royal Commission handed down its final report in September last year, the NSW Government has partnered with the Disability Council NSW to host a number of forums with stakeholders from the disability sector to discuss the report’s findings.

During this process, we listened to the voices of people with disability, advocates and service providers.

The NSW Government’s initial response and reform commitments are guided by these voices and include:

• Recognising the rights and autonomy of people with disability
• Better outcomes for First Nations people with disability
• Addressing barriers to promote inclusion and access
• Building a strong ecosystem of disability supports
• Services that are safe and inclusive

Importantly, implementation of the recommendations will be undertaken in partnership with people with disability, their families and the sector.

The NSW Government recognises that meaningful change for Australians with disability can’t be achieved in isolation. That’s why we’re also committed to working with other state, territory and Commonwealth governments towards a more equitable and inclusive Australia.

The Royal Commission was established in 2019 and investigated reports of violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation involving people with disability. It held 32 public hearings, examined 837 witnesses and received more than 10,000 submissions.

Progress reports on the recommendations will be made twice a year to the Disability Reform Ministerial Council and the community.

The NSW Government’s initial response can be found here: https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/community-inclusion/disability-and-inclusion/disability-royal-commission.html

The Commonwealth Government’s initial response can be found here: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/australian-government-response-to-the-disability-royal-commission

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“NSW must be a place where people with disability are safe, and their rights and dignity are respected.

“Our response is the first significant step in our long-term commitment to make meaningful change for people with disability in NSW.

“We are determined to honour the strength and courage of those who shared their stories with the Royal Commission.

“The NSW Government’s response is the roadmap for a safer, more inclusive NSW, a legacy paved by those who participated in the Royal Commission.

“We are committed to continuing to work in partnership with people with disability, their families and advocates to ensure that we’re seizing this opportunity to make lasting change.

“The reforms before us are ambitious, but we will all work together to drive the changes people with disability deserve and have fought hard for.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to ensure the lessons taught in New South Wales schools equip students with the tools they need to thrive in life after school, with the new Personal Development, Health and Physical Education [PDHPE] syllabus for years 7-10 released today.

For the first time, high school students in New South Wales will be explicitly taught about online safety and consent. This builds on the new syllabus for primary school students released last week which includes age appropriate lessons on these issues.

The updated syllabus reflects feedback from teachers, academics and school sectors.

Under the Minns Labor Government’s revised curriculum reform timelines, teachers have more than two years to familiarise themselves and implement the new syllabus, where previously they had just one year. Schools may choose to implement the updated syllabus before it becomes mandatory in 2027.

As social media and the digital world becomes increasingly prevalent in daily life, for the first-time students will be explicitly taught content aimed at helping them stay safe online. Informed by research, lessons will include content on:

• Rights and responsibilities as digital citizens, including when communicating online
• Strategies to deal with cyberbullying
• Managing digital privacy

This addition supports the Government’s ongoing work to address the impact online platforms are having on children and young people, which includes banning mobile phones in all public schools,

and hosting a social media summit later this year.

Further, students will engage in lessons to understand the importance of lifelong physical activity, and the connection between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing.

Consent has also now been made essential content that all students learn, where it was previously included as an example and not required teaching. Lessons will, in an age-appropriate way, teach that consent is freely given, reversible, informed and specific, with communication strategies, the importance of people’s choices and affirmative consent to be taught.

Students will continue to learn about respectful relationships, with the addition of lessons on how to recognise signs of coercive control, manipulation and controlling behaviours in relationships.

Other health issues such as addiction are now explicitly included and will be taught in an age appropriate way. These lessons will include how to recognise signs of addiction and strategies for students to support themselves and others, with teachers able to reference examples including gambling, vaping, alcohol and prescription medication.

Visit the NSW Curriculum website to view the syllabuses and support materials for teachers and families.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“This new PDHPE syllabus equips students with essential knowledge, skills and strategies to help them take control of their health and wellbeing and navigate challenging situations.

“Students will now learn compulsory content to help them understand their responsibilities as citizens of the digital world and maintain their safety online.

“They will also learn to recognise and respond to the signs of domestic and family violence, and to understand consent, ensuring all NSW students have the knowledge and skills to protect

themselves and respect the boundaries of people around them.

“We need teachers to be equipped with age-appropriate, evidence-based content that aligns with community expectations. This new PDHPE syllabus does that.”

NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin said:

“As with all reformed syllabuses, the new 7-10 PDHPE syllabus makes it clear what is essential content to deliver.

“Not only does that provide greater clarity and support for teachers who deliver the content, it bridges the gap with parents and carers with an interest in what their children are learning about.

“PDHPE deals with a broad range of learning – from physical health through to positive, safe and respectful behaviour online and offline.

“We will develop new resources to support teachers delivering new content and parents getting to know what is being covered in classrooms.”

The NSW Government will continue to prioritise the safety of beach goers this summer, while increasing protections for marine life, with the release of the state’s 2024-25 Shark Management Program.

Over the 2024-25 season the Government will work to ensure the Shark Management Program is striking the right balance and meeting community expectations.

The Government will further engage with local councils on shark management with a focus on the future use of shark nets, and the exploration of local decision making on the removal or use of nets.

The Program released today includes a suite of new measures to be trialed, which will increase protections for marine life whilst shark nets remain in use, including:

• Removing shark nets one month earlier, on 31 March 2025, to respond to increased turtle activity in April.
• Increasing the frequency of net inspections by contractors during March from every 3rd day to every 2nd day.
• SLS drone surveillance increased over nets during March to scout for turtles on the days contractors aren’t inspecting
• Trial of lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement during February and March.

Shark nets across NSW are also fitted with acoustic warning devices, such as dolphin pingers and whale alarms, to deter and minimise the risks to those marine mammals.

The $21.5 million Shark Management Program for 2024-25 is designed to protect the safety of beach users from the across 25 local government areas from Tweed to Bega, by reducing interactions with sharks, whilst minimising the impact on other marine life.

A range of techniques will be used in 2024-25 to achieve this objective, such as:

• Drone surveillance program using 50 drones, partnering with Surf Life Saving NSW
• 37 tagged shark listening stations, all year round along the NSW coast
• 305 SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drumlines across 19 LGAs, all year
• Shark nets at 51 beaches across eight LGAs, 1 September 2024 to 31 March 25
• Funding Surfing NSW $500,000 to provide mitigation support and services including trauma response kits, drones and training
• SharkSmart community education program, including shark and social research.

Over the 2023-24 season 400 drone pilots for Surf Life Saving NSW were trained, who flew more than 36,000 flights across nearly 10,000 hours. Through this use of drones 362 sharks were observed.

SMART drumlines have also been used as an effective tool to keep swimmers safe on New South Wales Beaches, allowing over 413 target sharks such as white, tiger and bull sharks, to be caught, tagged and released last year.

Once tagged, the state’s 37 coastal tagged shark listening stations can track these sharks near the beaches where the device is based – with this information available to anyone with the SharkSmart app, website of on X (Twitter).

Over 2,000 target sharks have been tagged over the life of the program, and are monitored by listening stations.

For more information visit www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government’s priority is the safety of beach goers, at the same time we are committed to protecting our states marine life.

“We will be working closely with local governments, SLSNSW and Surfing NSW over this season to ensure the future of this program works for the communities it operates in.

“Importantly, this year we have responded to community feedback and taken significant steps to increase the program’s safeguards for marine animals.

“As we map the future of this program we will listen to local communities, and consider the best available evidence to ensure we are striking the right balance at our beaches.”

Leading barrister John Catsanos SC has been appointed a judge of the District Court of NSW.

Mr Catsanos has a strong track record of providing independent, specialist advice and representation to a range of clients over four decades in law, from medical malpractice and injuries in public places, to car crashes and workplace accidents.

For 37 years he has practised as a barrister at the NSW Bar and in 2019 was appointed Senior Counsel. His work has mainly consisted of complex cases such as industrial and motor accidents, professional negligence and public liability.

After earning his law degree from the University of Sydney in 1983, Mr Catsanos was employed as a solicitor with Malcolm Johns & Company. He later travelled overseas and for five months worked in London-based firm Vivyen Wells & Kennedys Solicitors, before returning to his previous practice in Sydney.

In 1987 he was admitted as a barrister and has practised ever since, most recently with Henry Parkes Chambers.

Mr Catsanos will be sworn in on 5 August 2024.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of John Catsanos SC to the District Court bench.

“Mr Catsanos’s expertise will be vital to the Court and I would like to congratulate him on this well-deserved achievement.”

Major construction work will begin next month on the widening of Mamre Road, a key focus of the Minns Labor Government’s plans to connect the fast-growing jobs precincts of western Sydney with the new Western Sydney Airport.

Mamre Road is an expanding commercial and logistics corridor linking the M4 Motorway with the new international airport at Badgerys Creek.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget poured $1 billion into road upgrades to open this part of Western Sydney to the world when the airport opens in 2026.

Western Sydney, Australia’s fastest growing region, is expected to swell from a population of over two million to more than three million over the next two decades, and the NSW Government is working to provide the roads to accommodate the expansion.

Stage 1 works, which will begin within weeks with clearing and establishment of a site compound, will double the lane capacity of Mamre Road – parts of which remain a single lane in each direction unable to meet the freight and traffic pressure the road is under.

The new four-lane format, with wide central median, will be built to allow a further upgrade to six lanes when needed in future.

The first stage of work on Mamre Road will upgrade a 3.8 kilometre stretch between Erskine Park Road and the M4 motorway at an estimated cost of $290 million.

A wider Mamre Road will reduce congestion experienced by residents and create a new, shared pedestrian-bike path.

Construction company Seymour White will deliver the work, including the construction of two bridge-sized culverts to improve drainage, upgraded intersections to improve safety and travel times, and a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

The NSW Government provided $500 million in the 2024 Budget to progress Stage 2 between Erskine Park Road and Kerrs Road at Kemps Creek. That investment takes total Federal-State funding of Mamre Road to $1 billion.

On Thursday, the first sod will be turned on Access Logistics Park, a 20-hectare industrial development on Mamre Road, Kemps Creek, providing 90,000 square metres of new warehouse and office space and hundreds of jobs in its construction and operations phases. The site is owned by Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member super funds, and investment and development manager Barings.

To the west, work is continuing to transform Mulgoa Road to a four-lane dual carriageway between Glenmore Park and Jeanette Street, improving road capacity to cater for population and employment growth.

Planning is well underway to upgrade Elizabeth Drive, which will take travellers directly to the new airport and connect Mamre and Northen Roads.

More information about the Mamre Road Upgrade. 

Premier Chris Minns said:

“The NSW Labor Government is building better roads and essential infrastructure for Western Sydney.

“We inherited roads around the new airport that were not up to standard, and where upgrades were years behind.

“This area is the engine room for jobs growth and our upgrade of Mamre Road is another boost for Western Sydney’s residents and businesses.

“Our recent budget invested a record $5 billion in Western Sydney roads.

“This is all part of the Government’s plan to build infrastructure for growing communities.”

Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“It is good to see upgrade works on Mamre Rd will soon begin, and I know the community looks forward to improved traffic flow on this busy road.

“The Liberals and Nationals spent a decade squandering opportunities to upgrade transport links leading to the new Western Sydney Airport.

“We are making the investments needed to open up access to the new airport, which is a key part of Western Sydney’s economic future.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The work beginning on Mamre Road is providing construction jobs today, but it is also an investment in jobs of the future as we bring the road infrastructure up to a standard required by the commercial developments going in here.

“This upgrade will see a doubling in lane capacity – turning what is a single-lane, undivided road into a dual-lane carriageway used by about 20,000 motorists each weekday.

“The NSW Government is working hard to make the Sydney motorway system better utilised by truck freight which makes Mamre Road even more important as a critical connector between the M4 Motorway and the future airport.

“While we welcome construction on the first stage today, we also continue the important preparation for the $1 billion Stage 2 upgrade to Mamre Road.”

Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty said:

“The NSW Government have committed to upgrading roads in South Western Sydney and this is another step in that process.

“Planning for the future of our community with this upgrade will save on travel times and improve connections to the future Western Sydney Airport.

“After 12 years of inaction and neglect in this part of Sydney, the Minns Labor Government is getting on with job and delivering more reliable and safer roads.”

Rest Chief Executive Officer Vicki Doyle said:

“The Access Logistics Park, located on Mamre Road, gives Rest’s 2 million members exposure to a world-class industrial facility at the heart of Australia’s next global freight and logistics hub.

“This future-focused industrial estate, as well as the upgrades to Mamre Road, will help fuel the economic development of South Western Sydney, a region where tens of thousands of Rest members live and work.”

Today the Productivity Commission has released new Closing the Gap data, including data specific to NSW.

The data shows that while we have made some progress, there is still a great deal of work to be done.

Closing the Gap is a top priority of the NSW Labor Government.
It is pleasing that progress is being made, with the majority of the Closing the Gap outcomes in NSW improving. Six of the targets are on track in the state:

• healthy birthweight
• children enrolled in early childhood education
• young people completing tertiary education
• young people engaged in employment or education
• people of working age (25 to 64 years) are employed
• housing overcrowding.

These results show Aboriginal people are getting a better start in life and capitalising on that start with better education outcomes, leading to better employment outcomes.

While these results are welcome, they are not enough.

A number of targets are going backwards, including children thriving in their early years, the number of young people in the criminal justice system, suicide rates and children in out of home care.

The NSW Government is steadfast in its commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal organisations, communities, and people to Close the Gap.

In February 2024, the NSW Government signed a new Partnership Agreement with the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations and Local Government NSW.

Our focus is on shared decision-making. We know that when Closing the Gap solutions are designed, led, and implemented by Aboriginal people and communities, we get better outcomes.

NSW is looking beyond the four nationally agreed priorities to also focus on economic development.

We are the only jurisdiction to have a fifth priority reform under Closing the Gap, focused on employment, business growth and economic prosperity via the NSW Roadmap for Aboriginal Business Growth.

We are working closely with the Aboriginal business community to harness their potential and build economic opportunities. This includes twice yearly business roundtable events and the establishment of an Investment NSW one-stop-shop for Aboriginal business support.

Today’s data is a reminder that there is still a long road ahead. The NSW Government is committed to travelling that road with our Aboriginal partners to Close the Gap.

The NSW Government is investing more than $4.4 million in non-government organisations to enhance support and care for people nearing the end of their life.

The End of Life and Palliative Care Non-Government Organisations Grants Program will provide more than $3.5 million in funding over four years to six organisations, including peak body Palliative Care NSW.

Palliative Care NSW has been funded $671,076 to deliver an expanded Community Conversations program across NSW, which builds community capacity to have conversations about what matters most and to start advance care planning.

They will also deliver the PalliLEARN formal learning program, a course-based program designed to cultivate knowledge and compassion around death, dying and grieving.

The five other grants through the End of Life and Palliative Care Non-Government Organisations Grants Program have been awarded to organisations to deliver a broad range of community initiatives across NSW:

• Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service has been funded $632,250 to deliver End of Life and Palliative Care initiatives in co-design with the Bullinah Aboriginal community.
• Waminda South Coast Women’s Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation has been funded $670,019 to deliver End of Life and Palliative Care initiatives in co-design with the Waminda Aboriginal community.
• ACON has been funded $610,000 to establish a comprehensive ‘Taking Control’ End of Life and Palliative Care program, building on their existing co-designed LGBTQI+ toolkit for Palliative Care and End of Life decisions.
• Community Broadcasting Association of Australia has been funded $365,203 for the ‘Your Story, Your Decision’ project, using community radio stations to deliver relatable information about end of life and palliative care.
• The New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability has been funded $560,119 to deliver training and e-learning for health professionals, people with intellectual disability, their families and carers.

Through a separate NGO grants process, Palliative Care NSW has also been awarded $900,000 over three years to continue the delivery of the NSW Palliative Care Volunteer Services Support Program.

This program champions palliative care volunteering, and supports palliative care volunteers and volunteer services, and their development.

For more information on Palliative Care NSW and its initiatives supporting people nearing the end of their life, as well as their families and volunteers, visit https://palliativecarensw.org.au/

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“The NSW Government is committed to enhancing palliative care services and supports for all people across NSW.

“These NGO initiatives that have been awarded grants will provide increased death and grief literacy, promote knowledge and implementation of advance care planning and provide increased grief and bereavement support for families and carers.

“The NSW Government also recognises the central role that volunteers provide for the delivery of compassionate palliative care and support for patients and families.”

Palliative Care NSW CEO Kirsty Blades

“Palliative care volunteers are actively involved in offering support and companionship to people receiving palliative care, their family, and carers.

“In NSW, there are currently more than 1,100 volunteers from 38 palliative care volunteer services.  Services may provide, among other things, psychosocial support, carer respite, grief and bereavement support, and biography work, in hospitals, and at home in the community.

“Funding of the Palliative Care Volunteer Services Support Program provides resources, education and support to palliative care volunteers and volunteer services and helps build capacity in the sector.”

The NSW Government will engage with Central Coast Council over the next summer on shark management, with a focus on the future use of shark nets, and the exploration of local decision-making on the removal or use of nets. 

From September 2024 the newly elected Central Coast Council will have the opportunity to consult with the community on shark management at local beaches along the coast.

The future use or removal of shark nets along with other tools for managing shark interactions and safety on beaches, can be covered in the consultation.

This will ensure community expectations are met and the right balance is struck between ensuring beach goers are safe and protecting our local marine life.

There will also be engagement with Surf Life Saving NSW and Surfing NSW who are partners with the NSW Government in delivering the Shark Management Program for 2024-25 and into the future.

The Shark Management Program for the coming summer, released today, includes a suite of new measures to be trialled, which will increase protections for marine life while shark nets remain in use, including:

• Removing shark nets one month earlier on 31 March 2025, to respond to increased turtle activity in April
• Increasing the frequency of net inspections by contractors during March from every 3rd day to every 2nd day
• SLS drone surveillance increased over nets during March to scout for turtles on the days contractors aren’t inspecting
• Trial of lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement during February and March.

Shark nets across NSW, including the 11 in operation on the Central Coast, are also fitted with acoustic warning devices, such as dolphin pingers and whale alarms, to deter and minimise the risks to those marine mammals.

Over the 2023-24 season 400 drone pilots for Surf Life Saving NSW were trained, who flew more than 36,000 flights across nearly 10,000 hours. Through this use of drones 362 sharks were observed.

SMART drumlines, including the 32 in operation on the Central Coast, have also been used as an effective tool to keep swimmers safe on New South Wales Beaches, allowing over 413 target sharks such as white, tiger and bull sharks, to be caught, tagged and released last year.

Once tagged, the state’s 37 coastal tagged shark listening stations, including the three on the Central Coast, can track these sharks near the beaches where the device is based – with this information available to anyone with the SharkSmart app, website of on X (Twitter).

Over 2,000 target sharks have been tagged over the life of the program and are monitored by listening stations.

Please go to this website to see a map of Central Coast shark mitigation measures: Central-Coast-LGA-Shark-Mitigation-Measures.pdf (nsw.gov.au)