Council facing hefty bill to remove whale carcass from popular beach

A stinking whale carcass has still not been removed from City Beach in Perth, as authorities work out the logistics of transporting it to landfill. 

Drum lines have been set in the water in an attempt to tag sharks lured to the area.

What's next?

The Town of Cambridge will ask the state government to help pay for the removal of the carcass.

Authorities are hoping to tag sharks lured to one of Perth's most popular beaches by a whale carcass, as they try to work out how to transport the 10-metre specimen to landfill. 

Beaches in the Town of Cambridge remain closed after the dead whale washed up at City Beach early yesterday morning, attracting sharks within metres of the shoreline. 

Mayor Gary Mack told 102.5 ABC Perth the council was getting quotes from contractors to take the stinking carcass to landfill, since it was not viable to tow it out to sea. 

Town facing huge bill

In 2014, the bill for removing a whale carcass from Scarborough Beach hit $175,000. 

"I've been warned by people that were involved in the Scarborough incident ... that it is going to be expensive," Mr Mack said. 

"But one thing we do know is that we can't wait, we've got to get that carcass removed as soon as possible and that's our intent."

Mr Mack said the council would ask the state government for financial help to remove it. 

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said she had not been briefed on the cost of removing the carcass, which was a matter for the Town of Cambridge and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

"Generally local governments manage these types of things on beaches, that is part of their responsibility, but I won’t provide further comment," she said. 

'Opportunistic tagging opportunity'

Ms Jarvis confirmed drum lines had been placed in the water in a bid to tag sharks circling the beach. 

"We make use of opportunistic tagging opportunities," she said.

She also shed light on why the carcass could not be simply towed out to sea. 

"My understanding is if the carcass is dragged out further in these type of weather conditions, it increases the chances of the carcass being broken up and washing back onto shore and therefore causing more shark activity," she said. 

Mr Mack said City Beach and Floreat Beach would remain closed until the carcass was removed.