A juvenile whale carcass washed ashore near Cottesloe Beach on Thursday and has been removed to a landfill site. Town of Cottesloe rangers and a contractor used an excavator to lift it while dozens of locals watched. Lifeguards closed Cottesloe beaches that morning, and a shark alert was issued because the carcass could draw sharks closer to shore. The closures remain in place as a precaution. The removal follows a 31-tonne humpback whale at South City Beach last month, which cost about $180,000 to remove.
A dead whale has washed up on South Cottesloe beach in Perth, the second in recent weeks. The partly decomposed carcass, about three metres long, was found early on Thursday. Cottesloe Mayor Melissa Harkins said all local beaches are closed, including the main beach, which has a shark barrier. She urged people to stay out of the water until the carcass is removed and for some time after. Council staff plan to move the carcass to Red Hill Waste Management Facility for burial.
All Cottesloe beaches have been closed after a juvenile whale carcass washed up at Dutch Inn Beach in South Cottesloe. Authorities have warned people to stay out of the water after shark sightings. Surf Live Saving WA said lifeguards closed Cottesloe Beach around 7.30am on Thursday, and a shark alert has been issued. SharkSmart warned the carcass could draw sharks closer to shore along the coast. The closure also includes the main beach with its shark barrier.
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Beaches at Coogee and Maroubra in Sydney's east have been closed to swimmers after a whale carcass was spotted floating against the coastline. The dead whale, suspected to be a young humpback, was seen at Lurline Bay on Thursday morning. Randwick Council says the beaches will stay closed until further notice while the whale is removed. Whale scientist Vanessa Pirotta says the animal is likely a young adult or teenaged humpback and has advised against swimming in the area.
Five saltwater crocodile sightings have been confirmed around Broome in the past two weeks, prompting beach closures. A 3 metre crocodile was spotted at Simpsons Beach last Friday, October 15, and Simpsons Beach, Demco Beach and Entrance Point were closed for 24 hours while rangers patrolled. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions says crocodile activity is rising as temperatures climb and the wet season nears. Residents and visitors are urged to stay alert near waterways, follow ranger directions and warning signs, and avoid entering water where crocodiles may be present.
The City of Joondalup will move up to 850 truckloads of beach sand from one side of Hillarys Boat Harbour to the other. Sand building up at Sorrento Beach will be shifted to the north side of the harbour to address ongoing erosion at Hillarys Beach. The seven-week project costs about $200,000 and has run annually since 2018. Works are scheduled to start on October 12 on weekdays from 7am to 5pm. Sections of Sorrento and Hillarys beaches will close during the works for safety reasons. Mayor Daniel Kingston said the program helps protect the city's coastline.
Northern Beaches aquatic businesses report significant financial losses due to reduced tourist numbers following a year of shark attacks. The state government's drone surveillance program, while improving safety, has led to increased shark sightings and more frequent beach closures, further impacting businesses. Manly Surf School owner Matt Grainger says his business has dropped by 30 per cent since January, while Dee Why Salty Surf School's Dan O’Connell saw a similar decline. Pro Dive manager Apollinaire Pantusi reports a 25 per cent hit to their business.
