A community meeting to discuss shark mitigation in Mandurah has been postponed after fears “special interest groups” could take over the event to “advance their political agenda”.
The event was created by Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup following a shark attack on 20-year-old Albany bodyboarder Noah Symmans off Pyramids Beach on Sunday.
In a statement posted on the Shark Mitigation Community Meeting event’s Facebook page, Mr Kirkup explained his reasons behind the move.
“When I first invited you to attend the community shark mitigation meeting this Saturday, it was because I wanted to hear from local residents about their views in relation to shark attacks off our beach,” he wrote.
“It's become clear that special interest groups intend on driving down from Perth to our event in an attempt to advance their political agenda.
“This is contrary to what I had hoped to achieve - which was to listen to you and local residents more broadly.
“As a result, the community meeting this Saturday is going to be postponed and instead, I'll be coming up with a way where local residents can have their say on this issue in the near future.”
The attack was the third off that section of coastline in in the past three years, which includes the tragic death of local surfer Ben Gerring off Falcon in 2016.
Mr Symmans’ encounter has renewed the push for the state government to adopt state-of-the-art drumline technology.