Beach enclosure to provide safer ocean swimming in Esperance this summer

The Western Australian Government is providing $400,000 to the Shire of Esperance for the installation of a beach enclosure which will provide safer swimming and be in place for the upcoming VacSwim season - making parents feel more comfortable to enrol their children in the lessons offered at the beach.

Beach enclosures are shark barriers made from rigid materials covering the full water column, anchored to the ocean floor and attached to surface floats. They are designed to prevent sharks from entering the enclosure.

The new Esperance beach enclosure extending more than 300 metres from the James Street groyne is nearing completion and will offer a safe barrier for swimming activities for Esperance locals and tourists alike.

Western Australia's comprehensive $17 million shark mitigation strategy offers a range of tools and actions to help keep ocean users and coastal communities as safe as possible.

As well as support for coastal beach enclosures, the State Government's shark mitigation strategy includes the SharkSmart WA app and website, the Sea Sense Awareness campaign, an enhanced program of Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) beach and aerial patrols, a world-first personal shark deterrent subsidy for divers and surfers, and an extended Shark Monitoring Network.

Esperance has four of the State's 34 tagged shark detection acoustic receivers, with one each at Kelp Beds and West Beach and two located at Twilight Beach. These locations also feature recently automated Shark Warning System towers, which use lights, sirens and audio alerts to notify beachgoers of shark activity detected in the area.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) shark tagging program, which supports the Shark Monitoring Network, also operates out of Esperance every summer. The program has seen 145 white sharks tagged in WA waters since 2009, 41 of those near Esperance.

Western Australian Fisheries Minister Don Punch congratulated the Shire of Esperance for embracing ocean safety initiatives and its support of WA Government's shark hazard mitigation measures and noted "Western Australia's evidence-based shark mitigation strategy is the most comprehensive in the nation, with beach enclosures forming an important component of our approach to help keep ocean users as safe as possible.

"The Shire has been managing the project to install the James Street Beach Enclosure and a complementary new lap pontoon, further enhancing the beautiful Esperance Foreshore precinct and ensuring swimmers can safely enjoy a dip in the ocean."

Agricultural Region State Member Shelley Payne added "The James Street area is set to become a social and cultural hub for Esperance with many children participating in the annual VacSwim beach swimming lessons there over the years.

"It is great to hear that the barrier will be in place for the upcoming VacSwim season, making parents feel more comfortable to enrol their children in the lessons offered at the beach.

"I look forward to seeing both locals and visitors enjoy our beautiful coastline more safely this summer.”