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Entry 577Filed under Breeding

Geraldton’s Greys Beach Whale Carcass Removed After Two-Day Operation

A 20-tonne whale carcass was dragged to Separation Point and lifted by two cranes before transport to Meru. The two-day operation’s cost is recorded differently in City minutes and a later report.
3-minute read By Animalso Team

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The City of Greater Geraldton completed the removal of a whale carcass from Greys Beach on 23 July 2024, after a two-day effort complicated by the animal’s size and limited access. The City estimated the carcass weighed 20 tonnes. A six-wheel-drive vehicle dragged it 800 metres to Separation Point, where two cranes loaded it onto a truck bound for Meru Waste Management Facility.

Why the removal took two days

The whale had been spotted the previous Monday, and the beach north of Separation Point was closed around the site. Work began on Monday, 22 July, but the initial lifting attempt was postponed when one crane was judged insufficient to move the carcass safely. Crews shifted it to the Separation Point entrance and returned with two cranes.

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The City described the carcass’s weight, its distance from beach access and the need for suitably large machinery as the main challenges. CEO Ross McKim called it the most difficult removal the City had undertaken in more than a decade. On Tuesday, 23 July, the two cranes lifted the whale onto a truck; securing the load reportedly took more than an hour.

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How the carcass was moved and disposed of

The City’s account says a six-wheel-drive vehicle dragged the carcass 800 metres to Separation Point. There, two large cranes worked together to load it onto a truck for transport to Meru Waste Management Facility. A later Geraldton Guardian report identified the animal as a humpback whale.

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The City said it chose removal to Meru rather than leaving the whale on the beach or towing it offshore. McKim told the Geraldton Guardian that the decision was intended “to avoid attracting sharks or creating a shipping hazard.” The available reports do not state what caused the whale’s death.

What officials advised about beach safety

SharkSmart’s 15 July 2024 advice warned that the carcass could attract sharks close to shore. The City closed the affected beach while authorities assessed the situation. In an update on 24 July, SharkSmart confirmed the carcass had been removed but cautioned that residue at the beaching site could still attract sharks. Its advice was to respect closures, use caution and check current shark-activity information. These were notices about the 2024 incident, not a current warning.

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Who decides what happens to a whale carcass in Western Australia?

Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) says carcass management is the responsibility of the relevant land manager. On a populated beach, that is generally the local government or other land manager, unless the site is managed by DBCA. Decisions can involve consultation among the land manager or local authority, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and the Parks and Wildlife Service; DBCA can advise on contractors, species data and wrapping.

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The response depends on the location and circumstances. DBCA says carcasses at remote sites with little human interaction are generally left in place to decompose. Its guidance describes a “beach and bundle” approach, in which a carcass is allowed to beach and then removed where appropriate. Offshore towing is not a guaranteed alternative: DBCA says past attempts have often failed, although towing can succeed under suitable logistical, safety and environmental conditions.

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For Geraldton, the City’s council minutes say officials obtained advice and approvals, investigated options, and hoped the carcass might wash back out or reduce naturally before following State advice and contracting removal. The record does not establish that the council formally assessed every possible option.

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What the records say about the cost

The City’s confirmed council minutes from 30 July 2024 record a contractor invoice of $42,730 for removing the large whale. In the same response, the City said seasonal spending was close to $50,000 for three whale removals plus some officer time, against an animal-carcass removal budget of $22,800. Those are different measures: the invoice is for the large-whale contractor, while the seasonal total includes other removals and staff time.

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A Geraldton Guardian report published on 3 January 2025 attributed a later figure of $38,000 to CEO Ross McKim as the total cost of removing the large whale. That reported amount does not match the $42,730 contractor invoice in the contemporaneous council minutes. The available sources do not explain whether the difference reflects a revised total, a different cost scope or a correction.

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