NSW adds $34m to expand shark monitoring drones

The New South Wales government has announced a major expansion of its shark mitigation program, committing an additional 34 million Australian dollars to fund year-round drone surveillance at approximately 70 beaches along the state’s coastline. The total program funding now stands at roughly 120 million dollars. The enhanced surveillance, which includes all of Sydney's beaches, is scheduled to begin on July 1.

The announcement follows a serious shark attack at Coogee Beach on June 13, where a 34-year-old woman, Leah Stewart, was critically injured by a suspected great white shark and later had her arm amputated. Premier Chris Minns, while acknowledging the attack, framed the funding as part of a long-term strategy focused on risk reduction rather than a direct reaction to the incident. He emphasized that the program aims to be world-leading, using technology to provide earlier warnings to water users.

The expanded program will involve hundreds of thousands of drone flights annually, with remote piloting allowing coverage of long coastal stretches. The intention is to integrate drone sightings directly into patrol operations to shorten response times. The government also plans...