Mandurah mayoral candidate Rhys Williams promises Falcon shark barrier will be built

The announcement comes a day after the delivery of the barrier was put in doubt over a funding shortfall. 

Mr Williams, who is a keen scuba-diver and surfer, said the barrier was “a worthy investment of ratepayers’ money” which would protect Mandurah’s ocean culture.

“I grew up around Mandurah doing those things, that’s what I mean when I say that we need to protect the things we love doing the most,” he said.

He said if he was elected Mandurah’s mayor he would work with the local council to ensure the delivery of the project.

Fisheries minister Dave Kelly committed $200,000 in May to get the protective barrier built, but it is understood the final price tag could be double that figure.

The eco-barrier, which was to be located near the break where local surfer Ben Gerring was mauled by a shark in May 2016, was scheduled to be installed ahead of the coming summer.

On Monday, City of Mandurah chief Mark Newman said council had not yet had the chance to consider the proposal or the financial costs associated with the project.

However, he said the enclosure would cost more than the commitment from the state government.

Mr Newman said council would also have to weigh up the “potential impacts on the amenity of the area, the capacity of the site to accommodate a likely increase in visitors to the beach, and ongoing maintenance requirements”.

Federal environment minister Josh Frydenburg visited the proposed barrier site with Canning MP Andrew Hastie and member for Dawesville Zak Kirkup on Monday morning. 

He said the City was being “short sighted” and it was “time for them to wake up”.

“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,” he said.