Whale cleanup cost $180,000: Cambridge council explores shark barriers for City
Cambridge council will review shark barriers at City Beach after a 31-tonne whale carcass cleanup cost $180,000, three times the original estimate.
A 31-tonne whale washed up on South City Beach in September. Removing it cost the Town of Cambridge about $180,000.
The bill was roughly about three times higher than expected. This left ratepayers facing a sudden, unbudgeted expense.
Deputy mayor Ben Mayes has called for a study into shark barriers for City Beach, one of the region's most popular beaches. The removal came nine days after a shark attack killed Perth father Greg O'Neill at nearby Sorrento Beach.
Mayes is also pushing the State Government to take responsibility for whale carcass management across Western Australia. He wants the state to reimburse Cambridge for the cleanup cost.
He argues local ratepayers should not carry the financial burden of an incident beyond their control.
Why it mattersCouncils risk large unexpected costs when marine wildlife washes ashore, and the question of who pays reflects a gap in State policy.
AustraliaWestern Australian beaches may gain shark barriers, and how the State handles marine incidents could shift responsibility for future costs.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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