Funding secured to replace deteriorating shark towers at popular Esperance beaches before summer rush

Funding has been secured to replace deteriorating shark towers at popular Esperance beaches before visitors rush to the region for the summer months. The $45,000 upgrades will see audio and visual warning towers replaced at Twilight Beach, West Beach and Kelp Beds to ensure beachgoers are alerted if a tagged shark is in the area. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has announced it will cover the cost of upgrades after questions were raised over which government jurisdiction the towers came under. The towers, installed after a fatal shark attack that claimed the life of local scuba diver Gary Johnson in 2020, have deteriorated in the years since, with one completely out of action. The towers were originally funded by DPIRD, and the shire of Esperance said ownership was never transferred to the local government authority after installation. At last month’s council meeting, it was unanimously decided to request that the State Government replace the towers, with the shire’s chief executive Shane Burge to write to Minister for Fisheries Don Punch. DPIRD has confirmed the new towers will come under a “joint agreement”, under which DPIRD will provide the tower infrastructure, installation and connectivity. Under the agreement, the shire will be responsible for ongoing maintenance and operation. DPIRD shark response unit manager Michael Burke said the towers worked with the department’s shark monitoring network. “When a receiver detects a tagged shark, it automatically triggers the adjacent beachside tower’s flashing lights, siren and audio message, which will operate for at least one hour after the detection,” Mr Burke said. “We continue to build on our comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy so that people can continue to enjoy WA’s beaches and ocean with confidence.” The towers complement the WA Government Shark Monitoring Network, which also sends alerts to the SharkSmart app and website when tagged sharks are detected or shark sightings are reported. Shire of Esperance president Ron Chambers previously described the towers as a “critical” part of the shark warning system. “It doesn’t decrease the danger that people are in when you go in the water, but obviously it’s a much better alert system, especially if you’re already in the water,” he said. “If you’re out swimming in the water or surfing in the water, or whatever, you’re not necessarily looking at your phone. “To have those there where there’s a lot of beachgoers, I think it’s a critical warning system. “I want to remind people to report all shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 so they can be reported through the SharkSmart WA app.”