Shark attacks drive tighter water safety planning for Wollongong coastal events amid heightened surveillance operations

Officials tighten coastal-event safeguards after a cluster of shark incidents in New South Wales

Event organisers in Wollongong are implementing stricter water-safety arrangements after a series of shark incidents along the New South Wales coast triggered beach closures and intensified public warnings. The heightened precautions come as authorities expanded aerial surveillance and emergency-response readiness across multiple coastal areas.

Between January 18 and January 20, 2026, four shark-related incidents were reported across New South Wales, including two cases in which victims were hospitalised in critical condition. Incidents were recorded at Sydney Harbour near Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, at Manly’s North Steyne, at Dee Why (where an 11-year-old’s surfboard was bitten and the child was not injured), and near Point Plomer on the Mid North Coast, where a surfer sustained minor injuries.

Why conditions matter: rainfall, runoff and low-visibility water

Authorities and marine experts have linked the elevated risk period to recent heavy rainfall and associated runoff, which can reduce visibility in coastal and harbour waters. These conditions may draw bait fish closer to shore and increase the likelihood of encounters between people and sharks, particularly in turbid or brackish water.

Operational advice issued during the incident period emphasised avoiding low-visibility water, and staying out of the ocean where beach closures were in place.

What “very strict safety” looks like for events in the water

For coastal events in the Wollongong area, strengthened planning is centred on prevention, rapid detection and immediate medical response. While individual event plans vary, the measures being adopted or reinforced typically include:

• Expanded shark-spotting capability, including coordinated drone surveillance and additional on-water observation before and during water legs.
• Clearer stop-start protocols, including defined triggers for pausing or cancelling swims based on sightings, water clarity, and advice from lifeguards and surf lifesaving personnel.
• Reinforced communications to participants and spectators, including pre-race safety briefings and live announcements if conditions change.
• Medical readiness upgrades, including rapid-access first aid and bleeding-control capability aligned with severe-bite response requirements.

Broader NSW response: drones, equipment and extended patrol windows

Across New South Wales, the shark-mitigation posture has expanded this summer through increased drone operations, longer seasonal coverage into late March 2026, and additional support for community-level emergency equipment. The state’s approach also includes partnerships to improve drone access and training for coastal user groups between Newcastle and Wollongong, adding another layer of surveillance around surf activity and local events.

What this means for participants and beachgoers

For the public, the key operational message during the current risk period has been to follow beach-closure directions and to avoid entering the water when visibility is poor after heavy rain. In Wollongong, organisers are proceeding on the basis that water-safety decisions may be made closer to start times, and that event formats can be modified if conditions do not support safe ocean entry.

With multiple incidents recorded within a short timeframe, the emphasis for events remains on risk controls that can be verified on the day: surveillance coverage, enforceable stop protocols, and immediate emergency response capacity.