AERIAL shark patrols across the Mid North Coast will be extended for another year as part of the NSW Government’s $16 million Shark Management Strategy.
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Locally, there will be one flight a day, covering beaches from Nambucca Heads to Lighthouse Beach at Port Macquarie as well as Crowdy Head to Forster during every NSW school holidays until April 2017.
New South Wales Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair made the announcement on Tuesday.
The news comes as the majority of the state’s 21,000 frontline lifesavers prepare for the final weekend of the 2015/16 patrol season, with the last patrolling day being Monday April 25.
NSW Lifesaving Manager Andy Kent welcomed the move, saying the increased patrols would be an additional tool to help the lifesaving community keep beachgoers safe.
“We know from established research that thanks to our mild winters, people still very much enjoy heading to the beach throughout the cooler months,” he said.
“While our volunteer lifesavers won’t be patrolling there will still be a number of call out teams able to respond to any coastal emergency.
“The surveillance flights will be in contact with our State Operations Centre which now operates year-round and will be able to inform local lifesaving assets of any sightings.
“A significant advantage of this is our Operations Centre will be able to contact other emergency services including Water Police, and Lifeguards to assist in making appropriate decisions in real time.
“As an organisation we want all parties actively involved in what has become an integrated process with the development of new technology, and all emergency agencies have the same goal of keeping people safe.”