other · Randwick City Council
Randwick backs shark safety measures, adopts revised meeting code
Randwick City Council unanimously backed new shark safety measures for Coogee and nearby beaches on 16 June, while also adopting a revised Code of Meeting Practice after a state regulation was disallowed.
Randwick City Council has unanimously backed urgent shark safety measures for Coogee Beach and nearby beaches, and adopted a revised Code of Meeting Practice, at an extraordinary meeting on 16 June 2026. Councillors also amended one clause in the new code, changing "Urgency motion(s)" to "Notice of Urgency motion(s)".
The shark safety resolution thanked members of the public, Randwick City Lifeguards, police and first responders, including Charlie Verco, Ben Heenan and Dr Ian Ferguson, for their response after the 13 June 2026 shark attack at Coogee Beach. Council also thanked the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, NSW Ambulance personnel and staff at St Vincent’s Hospital for stabilising the patient, and sent best wishes to the victim and her family.
Councillors resolved to write to the NSW Government seeking year-round aerial drone surveillance for shark monitoring at Coogee Beach and other suitable Randwick beaches, including when shark nets are not deployed. They also want a permanent shark listening station, described in the minutes as an acoustic receiver, near Coogee Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordon’s Bay.
Council further asked the NSW Government to work with it to use existing electronic information boards and beach signage at Coogee and Maroubra beaches to clearly show when shark nets are in or out of operation, and to provide information on other shark monitoring and safety measures available to beach users.
The urgent business item was brought to the meeting under clauses 3.27 and 3.29 of Council’s Code of Meeting Practice because it was considered a matter of great urgency and needed a decision before the next scheduled ordinary meeting. The motion was carried unanimously.
Councillors also noted the disallowance of the Local Government (General) Amendment (Model Code of Meeting Practice) Regulation 2025, which had prescribed the code adopted at Council’s 9 December 2025 meeting. They then adopted a revised code under section 360 of the Local Government Act 1993.
The meeting closed at 7.13pm. The minutes were confirmed at Randwick City Council’s ordinary meeting on 30 June 2026.
Reference minutes
Based on the Randwick City Council Extraordinary Council meeting minutes of 16 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Randwick City Council met in extraordinary session on 16 June 2026.
- The shark safety resolution was carried unanimously.
- Council thanked Charlie Verco, Ben Heenan and Dr Ian Ferguson for their response after the 13 June 2026 shark attack at Coogee Beach.
- Council will write to the NSW Government seeking year-round aerial drone surveillance for shark monitoring.
- Council will seek a permanent shark listening station near Coogee Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordon’s Bay.
- Council wants existing electronic boards and beach signage at Coogee and Maroubra beaches to show when shark nets are in or out of operation.
- Council adopted a revised Code of Meeting Practice after the disallowance of the 2025 model regulation, with one wording change from "Urgency motion(s)" to "Notice of Urgency motion(s)".
Why it matters
- The council’s response affects how shark risk is communicated at Coogee, Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay and Maroubra, and it changes the rules Randwick City Council will use to handle urgent business at future meetings.