Perth whale cleanup strains council budget at $180,000
Removing a 31-tonne humpback from City Beach cost Cambridge council almost $180,000, more than triple initial estimates.
The whale washed up on September 27 and was moved 44 kilometres to landfill on October 1. A 72-tonne crane lifted the 13-metre carcass, but the real costs came from hiring specialist cranes and their operators, a sealed truck to contain whale fluid during transport, and managing safety for thousands of onlookers.
Mayor Gary Mack said hiring specialist cranes was an additional expense they did not fully anticipate. The council now plans to ask the state government to fund future whale removals.
If that fails, it will cut money from approved infrastructure projects to cover the bill.
- $180,000
- Final cost
- 31 tonnes
- Whale weight
- 44 kilometres
- Distance to landfill
- $40,000 to $100,000
- Initial estimate range
Why it mattersA one-off natural disaster is forcing a local council to choose between paying unexpected bills and building new facilities residents depend on.
AustraliaCambridge ratepayers face potential cuts to services unless Western Australia's state government agrees to fund whale carcass removal across the state.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
