6:30a.m. 31st December 2008

| By Steve Zemek

Hundreds of swimmers are courting death at La Balsa Beach every day according to proponents of a shark net that was controversially removed last month.

Holiday crowds have this week flocked to the popular artificial beach despite experts saying that bull sharks may lurk in the murky river.

Terry Boyce from the Save Our Net Committee said he could not believe the number of people swimming at the Kawana beach.

He said it was only a matter of time before someone was attacked.

 “Every day there are hundreds of people down there,” he said.

“And the general attitude seems to be that if it hasn’t happened yet, it won’t happen.

“Only two weeks ago the surfers had to get out of the water at the rock wall around the corner at Point Cartwright because there was a shark in the water.”

Kawana surf club officials, who carry out spot checks of the river mouth, were unable to confirm any recent sightings.

The beach has this week become a haven for holiday-makers and families, especially during heavy onshore winds, which have made conditions at many other beaches uncomfortable.

Many swimmers approached by the Daily said they were untroubled by the thought of swimming at the beach.

Warana resident Garry Ingram said he had no qualms about his two daughters, Lilli, 8, and Molly, 6, swimming there, despite seeing sharks in the Mooloolah River while working as a fisherman.

“I’d rather the shark net was in there,” he said.

“There are definitely sharks in there. I’ve seen them up the river.”

Christie Marks said she sometimes felt scared swimming at the beach but did so anyway.

Mr Boyce led the protest for the retention of the shark net before the council removed it in November because of maintenance costs.

He said his group had so far collected more than 2500 signatures supporting the net.

The idea for the net was first floated in 2007 following a series of fatal bull shark attacks on the Gold Coast and concerns it could happen on the Sunshine Coast, especially at La Balsa beach – given the number of trawlers that travel past the spot on the way downstream.

Mr Boyce said he had spoken to many Gold Coast residents about the removal of the net and many “just shook their head in disbelief”.

UnderWater World head curator Rob Mort said it was not known how many bull sharks lived in the Mooloolah River, but there was no doubt they were there.

“They are in every single river across the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

However, Mr Mort said the sharks – which grow to up to three metres and are known for their aggression – had a right to exist in their natural habitat and it was up to swimmers to be mindful of them.

“If anything, I think that it’s great that they’re there,” he said.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council was contacted for comment yesterday and said in a statement, “council has made its decision on the issue and has no further comment at this time”.