Nine SMART drumlines will be deployed offshore between The Farm, Shellharbour and Surf Beach, Kiama.

The drumlines are designed to alert people on the beach when a shark is on the line, so that it can be tagged, relocated and released.

All but one Kiama councillor voted in favour of the trial.

An outspoken councillor Mark Way warned his peers that the trial could attract apex predators to local beaches.

“We’re putting baits there to attract sharks,” he said.

“It’s going to have a negative effect on tourism.

“If we catch one, it'll put a focus on this.”

Cr Way referred to the shark attack on Bombo Beach in March, 2016, that left Kiama Downs surfer Brett Connellan fighting for his life, as an anomaly. 

“I’ve been fishing for sharks for 40 years, surfing for longer than that, and I’ve never seen a great white shark out there,” he said.

“I accept there are sharks there, but on our part it's an overreaction to one attack.

“I don’t think we have a shark problem here, the only sharks I’ve seen in big numbers are hammerheads, and I’ve been surfing with them.” 

Kiama councillor Warren Steel argued heightened awareness about what’s lurking beneath the water can only be a good thing.

“If anything, there will be a positive tourism reaction from this,” he said.

“I live at Bombo, and at dusk I see 20 young surfers out there, and think, ‘My god if there's a shark out there they're all in trouble’.”

The drumlines will be deployed in November.