Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly today opened applications to metropolitan councils for Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signage, which will provide beachgoers with location information to help emergency services to respond to serious incidents.
The BEN signs are part of the WA Government’s election commitment to strengthen emergency measures, following the fatal shark bite incident at Falcon in 2016 that claimed the life of Ben Gerring.
Mr Gerring’s brother Rick, who joined Mr Kelly today to launch the BEN signs, put forward the idea after concerns about possible delays in attending emergency services trying to locate the closest beach access point to the incident.
The locations of the uniquely coded signs will be recorded with emergency services and also include the street address and nearest cross street.
The WA Government has since committed funding of up to $25,000 for metropolitan councils along the Perth coast for BEN signage to be installed at beaches.
Details regarding funding for regional councils will be announced next week.