‘Months of sharks’: Community outrage as whale carcass set to stay

A state government department’s decision to leave a whale carcass to decompose on a Bellarine beach has riled up locals.

DEECA has decided to leave the dead whale at Thirteenth Beach. Picture: Brad Fleet

Locals are furious that a whale carcass will be left to decompose naturally on a popular Bellarine beach, with a petition launched to try and overturn the decision.

The 16 tonne fin whale washed up west of the Barwon Heads Bluff on Thirteenth Beach earlier this month.

Shark warnings and beach closures have been in place since.

These warnings are now expected to be in place for the coming months following Wednesday’s decision by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

The removal of the whale was unviable due to a “range of considerations”, it said.

DEECA said the decomposing process would likely take months.

“Towing it offshore cannot be done safely and burying it is not practical or supported at this location,” it said.

The decision has raised the ire of many locals.

A petition launched by local business owner Sarah Quinney protesting the decision has already garnered more than 1600 signatures.

DEECA previously said to remove the carcass it would need to be transported to the Thirteenth Beach surf club, divided up, and then loaded into vehicles that could access the beach via the small, narrow access track.

Barwon Heads resident Ryan Jamison said many locals were “confused and disappointed” that DEECA had not acted on its own suggestion.

“Particularly in light of potential shark attacks as we approach the busy spring and summer season,” he said.

“It has a huge impact on the community.”

It is believed that the decomposing whale would detrimentally impact safety and local tourism.

Rasta Surf owner Ross Harrison said he had stopped renting out boards despite it being a significant part of their income.

“Community safety is paramount,” he said.

“We’ve been knocking back rentals because we feel very uncomfortable sending people out there.

The whale washed up along 13th beach near Barwon Heads in mid September. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It’s not easy, but it (the whale) can be removed.

“I’m urging DEECA and the government to get it moved.”

“It’s just too risky for our community.”

Concerns raised via the petition include the “huge risk for tourists who will definitely enter the water” and the impact on “local business’ livelihoods”.

Multiple government departments have been involved in managing the situation.

DEECA manages the whale carcass, Barwon Coast the beach closures, and the Victorian Fisheries Authorities and Life Saving Victoria monitoring shark activity.

Victoria’s Conservation Regulator has commenced an investigation into the whale’s missing tail.

The whale carcass remains close to the bluff at Barwon Heads, with many of the town’s locals fearing it could disrupt business. Brad Fleet

DEECA said large swells and high tides could still result in the carcass washing offshore or moving to a more accessible location, in which case it could reassess its decision.

Drone surveys will continue to monitor shark activity in the area.

Originally published as ‘Months of sharks’: Community outrage as whale carcass set to stay