THREE-MONTH TRIAL OF ALTERNATE SHARK MITIGATION MEASURES DURING SOUTHERN WHALE MIGRATION · Attachment 2 - 2026-01-22 Attachment to the Notice of Motion - Cr Lorentson - Meeting Minutes Oceans for All 26.09.2025

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Oceans for All (Noosa Shark Net Working Group) September 2025
Meeting Minutes – Trial of Replacing Shark Nets During Whale Migration Season




Welcome:

Sandy Bolton MP: Initiates the meeting, thanking all who attended on behalf of Caz
Lansdown and Oceans for All who were away and joined later by Teams. Acknowledged
that it had been two years since the original meeting of the Shark Net Working Group
and the task of all representatives to obtain a position from their groups on trialling the
removal of shark nets during whale migration season, with this meeting a follow-up to
the email from Oceans for All in August requesting they declare a position. Reiterated
the meeting was not a debate as there had been ample time and information provided
since the initial meeting, it is a recording on stakeholder positions as per the email sent
out to ascertain a unified position to take to state government regarding the trial.

Overview of Shark Net Summary Provided:

Sandy Bolton MP: Noted from the information compiled that Queensland is the only
state maintaining year-round shark nets, with no conclusive evidence of their
e ectiveness. The KPMG report recommended removing nets during whale migration
season and that alternatives to shark nets, such as drones, have been trialled and are
considered e ective as now permanent.

Council’s Position and Advocacy:

Mayor Frank Wilkie: Outlined the rationale behind Noosa Councils proposal to state
government for a trial, including the independent KPMG Report into the Shark Control
Program, highlighting the ine ectiveness of shark nets and their high bycatch rate.
Noted that in July council passed a mayoral minute endorsing recommendation 3.2 of
the KPMG report for a trial of removing shark nets during the whale migration season
and support for a trial in Noosa. The council has written to Minister for Primary
Industries, Hon Tony Perrett MP, and received a respectful yet firm response from the
state government who reiterated their position on the Shark Control Program. Asked if
there were any questions.

Sea Shepherd Sunshine Coast (Jonathan Clark): Asked about assessment criteria for
the trial removal of nets.

Mayor Frank Wilkie: Suggested the trial may assess the e ectiveness of alternative
measures like drones and aerial surveillance and to gather data to inform permanent
changes. The mayor noted he is not an expert and that the assessment criteria for the
trial would be decided by specialists.




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Oceans for All (Noosa Shark Net Working Group) September 2025
Meeting Minutes – Trial of Replacing Shark Nets During Whale Migration Season




Representatives’ Statement and Positions:

Noosa Parks Association (Tony Wellington): NPA made a submission opposing the
use of shark nets across the state. Supports trial.

Noosa Boating and Fishing Alliance (Andrew McCarthy): Although they recognise the
evidence regarding catch rates and bycatch, they are against until community
organisations that spend time in the water, Life Saving Clubs, Local Swimming groups,
are supportive.

Cr Amelia Lorentson: As a Noosa Councillor, position is based on community
consensus.

Sea Shepherd Sunshine Coast (Jonathan Clark): Emphatic that shark nets should be
removed. Supports trial.

Sunreef (Dan Ladd-Hudson representing Taylor Ladd-Hudson) - Supports trial.

University of the Sunshine Coast (Doctor Bonnie Holmes): Supports trial, but
emphasizes the need for careful replacement measures, as traditional drumlines can
shift the problem to more endangered species.

Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (Anna Macklin) - Supports trial based on
science and UNESCO Biosphere values.

Tourism Noosa (Sharon Raguse): Representing over 480 tourism business in Noosa,
polled members and received 160 responses overwhelmingly supporting trial.

Humpbacks and Highrises (Erin Kim): Supports trial.

Whalesongs Noosa (Erin Kim): Supports trial.

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club (Stephen Mawby & Graham Reid): Supports
Queensland Government’s Shark Smart Program and is neutral on the trial. However,
Graham noted as President of Peregian Family and Friends, they do not support the
expansion of nets to Peregian Beach.

Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club (Russell Quinn): Neutral on trial, wished to be
recorded as abstaining from the vote.

Noosa Today (Margie Macoll): Attendance as an observer.

Noosa Masters Swimming Club (Terry Park): Supports trial.

Malibu Club (Rick Espiner): In principle support of trial. However, concerned over what
will replace them.



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Oceans for All (Noosa Shark Net Working Group) September 2025
Meeting Minutes – Trial of Replacing Shark Nets During Whale Migration Season




Noosa World Surfing Reserve (Trevor Back): Against proposed trial. Reasons: 1. Lack
of consultation on mayoral minute, 2. Absence of non-biased data based on fact rather
than emotion, 3. No evidence of what would replace the nets.

Wildlife Noosa (Julie Osbourne): Supports trial.

Noosa Wave (Geo Aquino): Supports trial.

Peregian Beach Surf Life Saving Club (Leigh McCready): Neutral on trial and supports
the state government’s Shark Control Program policy.

Cooloola North Shore Coast Care (Natasha Cassidy): Supports trial, would like them
to be replaced with smart measures.

Hastings Street Association (Ben Orton): Supports trial.

Surfrider Sunshine Coast (Jennifer Sharpe): Strongly supports trial.

Oceans for All (Caz Lansdown & Jarrah Small): Supports trial and finding safe
alternatives to shark nets.



Closing Remarks:

Sandy Bolton MP: Concludes the meeting, thanking everyone and noting the
importance of capturing all positions. Asked if anyone felt that there was a Noosa based
water user group that needed to be contacted or included in the position statement to
send through contact details to Oceans for All.

Bonnie Holmes, USC Shark Scientist: Invited all to attend her presentation at Noosa
Parks Association regarding the Noosa Bull Shark Program. Stated that there was a bit of
misinformation in this meeting and wanted to discuss further at her presentation.



Meeting Closed at 9:00am

Footnote – record of votes attached.




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Oceans for All (Noosa Shark Net Working Group) September 2025
Meeting Minutes – Trial of Replacing Shark Nets During Whale Migration Season




Vote Record and Tally:
*Please note: Votes from attendees who were not representing an organisation were not included in the
count and instead recorded separately by the O ice of Sandy Bolton MP as an indication of individual
constituent support.

 For (16)                    Against (2)                       Neutral (2)                      Abstained (1)

 Coolum and North            Noosa Boating and                 Noosa Heads Surf Life            Sunshine Beach Surf
 Shore Coast Care            Fishing Alliance Inc.             Saving Club                      Life Saving Club
                                                                                                (Stated neutrality,
                                                                                                but specified
                                                                                                abstain)
 Hastings Street             Noosa World Surfing                Peregian Beach Surf Life
 Association                 Reserve                           Saving Club
 Humpbacks and
 Highrises
 Noosa Biosphere
 Reserve
 Noosa Council
 Noosa Masters
 Swimming Club
 Noosa Parks
 Association
 Noosa Wave
 Oceans for All
 Sea Shepherd
 Sunshine Coast
 Surfrider Sunshine
 Coast
 Sunreef
 Tourism Noosa
 University of the
 Sunshine Coast
 Whalesongs
 Wildlife Noosa


Votes of those via email response prior to the meeting:
 For (2)                           Against (0)    Neutral (0)                   Abstained (2)

 Noosa Malibu Club                                                              Noosa Chamber of Commerce
 Noosa Thriller Brent and Min                                                   Noosa Board Riders

Totals as of 3/10/2025:
 For                                                          18
 Against                                                      2
 Neutral                                                      2
 Abstained                                                    3




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