Another Perth beach has closed after authorities removed the tail of a whale carcass found off the shore at Sorrento. It is the second whale carcass to wash up on the city's beaches this week and the third in a month. Sorrento Beach has been closed since a fatal shark attack about five weeks ago, when Greg O'Neill was killed while swimming close to shore. On Thursday, a partial whale carcass led to the closure of all beaches at South Cottesloe. The state government is expanding its shark-tagging program and may use AI-powered drones to keep beachgoers safe.
Sorrento Beach in Perth's northern suburbs has been closed after a whale carcass was sighted on Sunday morning. The City of Joondalup closed the beach, and beaches in the area remain closed. The carcass was removed by 10.40am, but a shark advice alert remains because the carcass may attract sharks close to shore. Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are monitoring the situation. It follows a juvenile whale carcass that washed ashore at Dutch Inn Beach on Thursday, which was taken to the Red Hill Waste Management Facility.
A retired senior sergeant says Sorrento Police Station has had its resources removed and has not been fully operational for 18 months. Malcolm Davey, a former officer-in-charge at Sorrento and Rye, says the recording equipment for interviews has been taken out. He says the station appears open but is not attended, and he warns that policing in nearby towns would suffer. Victoria Police says the station remains operational and has not been permanently closed. It says daily patrols continue, and the closest 24-hour station is Rosebud.
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A shark net is going in at Quinns Beach this week ahead of summer, and local lifesavers say it will reassure parents of children learning to swim. Mike Spiby, a surf and ski coach at Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club, said the barrier would bring confidence to the club's 700 Nippers. He said the community felt deeply affected by a recent fatal shark attack at Sorrento. Residents who watched contractors roll out the net on Tuesday said it made the beach feel safer for families.
A Joondalup councillor wants the city to assess whether a modern non-lethal shark barrier could be installed at Sorrento Beach. Cr Phillip Vinciullo's motion follows last month's fatal shark attack that killed 63-year-old Greg O'Neill. He says the aim is to gather current information, not to assign blame. The beach's previous Eco Shark Barrier was removed in 2020 after an assessment found structural damage. Mayor Daniel Kingston has also put forward a motion on beach safety, with a final council vote expected on October 27.
The president of Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club says a fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach highlights the need for new clubrooms. Rob Doherty says the club's current facilities are inadequate for training. The club recently held a memorial for Greg O’Neill, who was killed in the attack. Doherty says the community has shown strong support for the club and the O’Neill family.
More than a thousand people gathered on Perth's Sorrento Beach to pay tribute to Greg O'Neill, who was killed by a great white shark in September. His son, Keelan O'Neill, urged the crowd to return to the water and keep doing the things they love. His daughter, Bianca, said the ocean was her father's happy healing place. O'Neill was the third person killed by a shark in Western Australia this year. His swimming group, the Sorrento Squids, returned to the water on Sunday.
A modernist home designed by Perth architecture practice Hawkins, Sands and Aris is on the market in Sorrento, with an asking price from $2.6 million. The four-bedroom property at 33 Marine Terrace sits about 350 metres from Marmion Pool. Owner Phil Costello said his mother, Dorothy Costello, bought the home in 2007 and kept its original features. The listing agent, Alice Murray of Peard Real Estate, said interest has been strong, mostly from families. The home is open by private appointment.
Swimmers have returned to Sorrento Beach in Western Australia, a month after a shark attack killed a local man. The Sorrento Slugs, a group of regular swimmers, say the attack has made them feel more vulnerable. They have swum at the same spot for 40 years, near where Greg O’Neill was taken by a shark. The group says they would not use a new swimming enclosure if one were built, as they did not use the previous one. They believe the beach was previously safe, but that sense of security has now gone.
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.
The City of Joondalup and the WA State Government are in a dispute over beach fees for educational swimming programs. The city charges the Department of Education over $20,000 a year to use Mullaloo and Sorrento beaches, which the department requested to be waived. The council voted against exempting government departments from these fees, with Mayor Daniel Kingston arguing the costs should be covered by the state's surplus. Education Minister Sabine Winton criticised the decision, stating it could impact public safety measures.
The shark barrier at Quinns Beach is set to be reinstalled next week, while the Cottesloe barrier has been delayed due to unsafe weather conditions. Cottesloe mayor Melissa Harkins acknowledged community concerns following recent shark activity. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed funding is available for local governments to install beach enclosures. The City of Wanneroo uses a team of at least five to install the barrier, depending on conditions.
Author Chris Hammer discusses his latest crime novel, Full Circle, which explores corporate greed and family conflict in Sorrento, Victoria. The book follows a former undercover cop and his partner as they navigate a world of wealth and murder. Hammer, a former journalist, draws on his experience and research to create a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of Australian finance and the super-wealthy.
