Latest news with #WillNemesh
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Jason uses a drone to look for sharks at Bondi. Here's what he sees
Backing up Iggleden's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggleden said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin – I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi], and it really tore at my heart,' Iggleden said. 'I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. Loading From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals such as grey nurse sharks, dolphins, rays and turtles. Less than half survived. From 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority were released alive.
Sydney Morning Herald
07-08-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It tore at my heart': How Jason found a new career as a shark spotter
Backing up Iggledon's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggledon said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi],' Iggledon said. 'I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin, and it really tore at my heart. I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Loading Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals. Less than half survived. Meanwhile, from 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority survived and were released alive.
The Age
07-08-2025
- General
- The Age
‘It tore at my heart': How Jason found a new career as a shark spotter
Backing up Iggledon's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggledon said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi],' Iggledon said. 'I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin, and it really tore at my heart. I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Loading Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals. Less than half survived. Meanwhile, from 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority survived and were released alive.
News.com.au
01-08-2025
- News.com.au
‘Gym bros': Ugly reaction over Bondi gym comment
A social media storm over a cult outdoor gym at Bondi Beach has led to a barrage of ugly threats against Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh. Rangers temporarily removed free weights from Bondi Park Fitness Station in March after Waverley Council received public safety complaints. In July, free weights returned to the gym after council passed a resolution allowing them, with safety measures in place. But media reports suggested weights had been removed because the gym was attracting 'too much testosterone' — a claim that the council has rubbished. Fitness trainer Vix Erber described the gym as a male-dominated area. 'It's really just a bro area and full of testosterone and that's why so many women train in gyms instead – unless you wanted to pick up a bloke, it's not a space you'd ever consider using,' Ms Erber told The Sydney Morning Herald. A furore then erupted online with Mr Nemesh as the target. understands gym users were concerned the council was cracking down on testosterone and men. A council spokesman said the upset on social media was sparked by 'false and misleading information'. 'Threats have been received by Mayor Will Nemesh, and while non-local trolls appear to be responsible, Council takes the content seriously and has referred it to authorities,' the spokesman said. 'Waverley Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards violent or threatening conduct directed at its staff, volunteers and elected officials.' The spokesman reassured gym users that 'free weights continue to be available at Waverley Council's outdoor gym at Bondi Beach'. 'Some equipment brought to the space by members of the community was temporarily removed after public safety concerns were flagged, but council worked with all parties to find a balanced and fair solution.'
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The huge changes coming to annual Christmas Day party on Bronte Beach after spirited revellers left behind a trail of glass and rubbish two years in a row
A Sydney council which compared the mess left in the wake of a Christmas Day beach party to attendees 'sh***ing on our doorstep' will spend $220,000 on waste management, security and toilets for this year's event. Waverley Council considered a variety of new rules for the festive gathering at Bronte Beach during a meeting of councillors on Tuesday night. These measures included a stronger enforcement of the glass and booze ban with a strengthened police presence to crackdown on anti-social behaviour this year. Up to 15,000 people, including a large number of tourists, gather at the iconic beach to celebrate Christmas Day every year. But the event came under fire in 2023 when the council complained that crowds had left large amounts of rubbish and glass behind. 'It's basically people sh***ing on our doorstep,' local councillor Leon Goltsman told NewsWire on Boxing Day in 2023. 'The fact there is still broken glass there, people are cutting their feet, the fact people are still having illegal parties… the fact if anyone gets injured or hurt, we can't even get an ambulance to them because it is all blocked, it's unacceptable.' Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told Newswire that the council didn't want to restrict access to the beach and surrounds by making it a fenced or ticketed event. The council on Tuesday will consider a strict glass bottle ban and increased police attendance An online survey commissioned by the council found fencing off the park was only supported by 25 per cent of locals. 'We heard the community loud and clear after Christmas in 2024,' Mayor Nemesh told 702 ABC Radio Sydney. 'Bronte is an absolutely spectacular part of the world. We want to ensure by implementing option three, all people can enjoy the public open spaces, but do so responsibly and respectfully. While alcohol is already banned on Bronte Beach and the surrounding park, the large number of people on Christmas Day means it is often smuggled in. Councillors is optimistic that a strict ban on glass and an increased police presence would deter people from drinking alcohol and engaging in anti-social behaviour. Waverley Council said the 15,000 people who visited the beach on Christmas Day last year was a 20 per cent increase on the previous years.
