Get the appHigh school student Harold Kay has been named the 2026 Central Coast Volunteer of the Year. He is recognised for his ongoing work in beach safety and support for young people with disabilities.
All Cottesloe beaches have been closed after a juvenile whale carcass washed up at Dutch Inn Beach in South Cottesloe. Authorities have warned people to stay out of the water after shark sightings. Surf Live Saving WA said lifeguards closed Cottesloe Beach around 7.30am on Thursday, and a shark alert has been issued. SharkSmart warned the carcass could draw sharks closer to shore along the coast. The closure also includes the main beach with its shark barrier.
The City of Stirling has voted to investigate stronger shark safety measures along its 7.5km coastline, including a possible shark barrier at Scarborough Beach. A report is due to the community and resources committee on November 24. Options include enhanced drone patrols and AI-assisted shark detection. Council officers warned that barriers may be unsuitable for exposed surf beaches because of heavy swells and strong currents. The move follows three fatal shark attacks in four months, the most recent involving a 61-year-old man at Sorrento Beach in September.
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Get the appTraders at Glenelg, a popular Adelaide beach area, have raised concerns that public brawls could keep families and tourists away. Police charged a 15-year-old boy with disorderly behaviour over an alleged fight at Glenelg Jetty on Sunday, and he is due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in December. The incident followed separate fights at Glenelg and Henley Beach in September, one of which led to a 14-year-old being reported for aggravated assault. Police have brought forward Operation Jericho to increase patrols along popular Adelaide beaches. Premier Peter Malinauskas warned young people they would face consequences.
A 25-year-old woman died after a wave swept her into the ocean while she was rock fishing at North Durras Beach, north of Batemans Bay on the New South Wales far south coast. Emergency services were called about 6pm on Saturday. Police believe she was fishing with a 39-year-old man at Point Upright when the incident happened. The man entered the water trying to reach her, was thrown onto nearby rocks and received minor cuts to his arms and legs. A passing recreational fishing vessel found the woman and brought her ashore, where CPR failed to revive her.
A Joondalup councillor wants the city to assess whether a modern non-lethal shark barrier could be installed at Sorrento Beach. Cr Phillip Vinciullo's motion follows last month's fatal shark attack that killed 63-year-old Greg O'Neill. He says the aim is to gather current information, not to assign blame. The beach's previous Eco Shark Barrier was removed in 2020 after an assessment found structural damage. Mayor Daniel Kingston has also put forward a motion on beach safety, with a final council vote expected on October 27.
A shark net is going in at Quinns Beach this week ahead of summer, and local lifesavers say it will reassure parents of children learning to swim. Mike Spiby, a surf and ski coach at Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club, said the barrier would bring confidence to the club's 700 Nippers. He said the community felt deeply affected by a recent fatal shark attack at Sorrento. Residents who watched contractors roll out the net on Tuesday said it made the beach feel safer for families.
Netted swimming enclosures are being installed at metropolitan Perth beaches as shark fears remain high after a string of fatal attacks. A 170-metre barrier at Cottesloe Beach was completed on Wednesday and will stay until the end of April. Council crews are preparing the Quinns Beach barrier to be operational by Friday, while the City of Fremantle expects to install the Bathers Beach enclosure later this month, depending on the weather.
More than a thousand people gathered on Perth's Sorrento Beach to pay tribute to Greg O'Neill, who was killed by a great white shark in September. His son, Keelan O'Neill, urged the crowd to return to the water and keep doing the things they love. His daughter, Bianca, said the ocean was her father's happy healing place. O'Neill was the third person killed by a shark in Western Australia this year. His swimming group, the Sorrento Squids, returned to the water on Sunday.
The family of Greg O’Neill, who died in a shark attack at Sorrento Beach last month, is inviting the community to gather in his memory. A gathering will be held on Sunday in front of Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club, with attendees encouraged to wear blue and reconnect with the beach. The State Government has announced an additional $5 million to strengthen shark hazard mitigation measures, including trials of AI-equipped drones and increased helicopter patrols.
The shark barrier at Quinns Beach is set to be reinstalled next week, while the Cottesloe barrier has been delayed due to unsafe weather conditions. Cottesloe mayor Melissa Harkins acknowledged community concerns following recent shark activity. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed funding is available for local governments to install beach enclosures. The City of Wanneroo uses a team of at least five to install the barrier, depending on conditions.
Austinmer Surf Life Saving Club has launched a recycling initiative with Coca-Cola to fund essential upgrades. Community members can deposit eligible bottles and cans in marked bins during patrol hours, with refunds contributing to the club's $10,000 target. The funds will support critical equipment and maintenance, including an all-terrain vehicle and patrol shed restoration. Coca-Cola is also providing $50,000 in direct funding to enhance operational capabilities. This effort aligns with the club's mission to ensure beach safety and foster future lifesavers through its Nippers program.