Federal environment minister Josh Frydenberg has joined the chorus of voices calling for the installation of a shark barrier at the popular Falcon Bay beach after it was revealed the project was in doubt over a funding shortfall.
Mr Frydenberg was visiting areas affected by the tragedy of shark attacks ahead of a federal cabinet meeting in Perth on Tuesday.
He was briefed by Canning MP Andrew Hastie and Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup at Falcon Bay about efforts to reduce the risk of sharks in Falcon before meeting families who had lost loved ones in attacks.
The City of Mandurah had revealed an eco-barrier the state government had committed $200,000 for could cost twice that amount and a report on the project wouldn’t be considered by council until the end of the year.
Mr Frydenberg said the City was being “short sighted” and it was “time for them to wake up”.
“When it comes to Mandurah, it is so sad to have learnt about the shark fatality here of a well-known surf-boarder and member of the local community and I call upon the local government, the Mandurah council, to take the action necessary to protect people on this particular beach,” he said.
“Putting in an eco-barrier makes a lot of sense.
“This community is based upon the use of the water, is based upon people being able to socialise on the beach and feeling safe to go for a swim or a surf.
“I call upon Mandurah council to take the advice of its own people, its own citizens, because I understand there is really strong local support for such action.”
Mr Hastie said he welcomed the announcement of the shark barrier and couldn’t see a reason to hold up its installation.
“The City of Mandurah needs to get on with it, it’s been promised for the Falcon Bay beach, let’s get it done,” he said.
“I’d like to see the same level of engagement from the City that Josh has shown.
“Josh is from the electorate of Kooyong, it doesn’t have beach front, but the point is, he’s come all the way to Perth and then down to Canning and he’s meeting with our local stakeholders, the families of the victims and he understands the issues and I call upon the City of Mandurah to do the same.”
Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup, who had been campaigning to have the shark barrier built by the coming summer, said the fact the federal environment minister had taken the time to inspect the site of the barrier revealed the importance of the issue.
“It is unfathomable that you’ve got the federal government, a federal minister supporting this, you’ve got the federal member who is rallying hard to get something like this built, you’ve got the Labor state government funding a Liberal party state commitment to get this installed and it’s all stopping now because there’s a local government standing in the way?” Mr Kirkup said.
“It’s outrageous. It’s a very poor reflection on the state of affairs in Mandurah, I think, for the City to ignore the concerns of the Falcon community.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
