More than 100 new Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signs will be in place by the end of the year, providing beachgoers with additional safety in time for Christmas.
At least 250 more signs will follow in the new year and help to improve response times for a range of potentially serious incidents by helping emergency services pinpoint exact beach locations.
This summer, BEN signs will be installed in the cities of Busselton, Mandurah, Joondalup, Bunbury and Nedlands, and the shires of Augusta-Margaret River and Coorow, with other local governments to follow.
The goal is to have more than 1,100 signs in place from Geraldton to Esperance, and the department has been working closely with eligible local governments and stakeholders to roll out the program.
BEN signs are just one part of the State Government’s comprehensive shark mitigation strategy which includes enhanced beach helicopter and drone patrols; a world-first personal shark deterrent subsidy for divers and surfers; beach enclosures; a satellite-linked shark monitoring network and a SMART drumline trial off Gracetown to start in early 2019.
To date, 27 of the 32 eligible local government authorities have been working to map sign locations and prepare grant applications.
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