Cambridge seeks State funding for $180,000 whale removal bill

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 04:31 · Archive

Cambridge council is seeking State funding for the $180,000 cost of removing a 31-tonne whale carcass from South City Beach.

The Town of Cambridge faces an unbudgeted $180,000 bill for removing a 31-tonne whale carcass from South City Beach. The carcass washed ashore on 28 September, triggering a week-long operation involving specialist contractors, heavy machinery and 76 Town of Cambridge employees. Response costs covered crane and excavator operations, transport and disposal, security, traffic management, beach remediation, water-quality testing and staff costs.

Deputy Mayor Ben Mayes has put forward a motion demanding the State take primary responsibility for coordinating and funding whale carcass responses across Western Australia. He argues that local ratepayers should not be forced to pay for incidents beyond their control. Mayes has called on the State Government to establish a funded response mechanism that would fully reimburse local governments and other agencies for response costs, review existing whale carcass management policy, and reimburse Cambridge for the South City Beach operation.

Cambridge Mayor Gary Mack initially estimated costs at between $60,000 and $100,000 at a press conference on 30 September. The council had requested that the carcass be towed offshore, but this was not supported by State agencies, leaving the town to undertake a land-based removal instead.

How it is being reported

• Eye-watering $180,000 whale carcass bill sparks Cambridge councillor to demand the State pay upCambridge ratepayers could be left with an eye-watering $180,000 bill for the removal of the whale carcass from South City Beach, with the council now considering how it is to deal with the unbudgeted expense.Perth Now · 19 Oct, 04:23
• Eye-watering $180,000 whale carcass bill sparks Cambridge councillor to demand the State pay upCambridge ratepayers could be left with an eye-watering $180,000 bill for the removal of the whale carcass from South City Beach, with the council now considering how it is to deal with the unbudgeted expense.The West Australian · 19 Oct, 04:23

In this story: Town of Cambridge · South City Beach · Ben Mayes · Gary Mack · Western Australia

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