Push for ocean pools to keep swimmers safe from shark attack in WA

Push for ocean pools to keep swimmers safe from shark attack in Western Australia

Push for ocean pools to keep swimmers safe

DANIEL EMERSON, The West Australian Updated October 26, 2011, 2:30 am

The Barnett Government should spend $15 million on three ocean pools - one at Cottesloe which is in the concept phase - to give people a shark-free saltwater swimming option, the Opposition says.
Shadow fisheries minister Jon Ford said three fatal shark attacks in WA in seven weeks prompted Labor to come up with a proposal of "practical engineering solutions" to safeguard swimmers.
It proposed two ocean pools in Perth at Cottesloe and a northern beach and one in regional WA, probably Middleton Beach, Albany. It was also exploring the feasibility of "beach enclosures" made from the metal mesh used in aquaculture.
The mesh, typically 12cm rings interconnected like chain mail suspended from a cable attached to buoys, would be a barrier rather than a net catching sea life, Mr Ford said.
He said 26 pools built into the rocky NSW coast were immensely popular and if pilot pools in WA were popular, more should be built.
"The only guarantee (against sharks) is if you stop the interaction between the marine environment and people," he said.
Opposition Leader Eric Ripper said the March 2013 State poll was too far away to make the proposal an ALP election promise.
But he said Labor would build the pools today if it could and would build them if they won the next election if current economic conditions prevailed.

 http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/10872349/push-for-ocean-pools-to-keep-swimmers-safe/