# Perth council's $180k whale bill strains budget

> A humpback whale washed up on City Beach in Perth, and removing it cost the Town of Cambridge $180,000, far more than expected.
- Title: Perth council's $180k whale bill strains budget · Abc
- Summary: A humpback whale washed up on City Beach in Perth, and removing it cost the Town of Cambridge $180,000, far more than expected. The Town of Cambridge spent…
- Keywords: town of cambridge, city beach, perth, humpback whale, whale removal, western australia, news, politics, council's, 180k, whale, bill
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-19/city-beach-whale-removal-costs-180k/107284720
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: town of cambridge, city beach, perth, humpback whale, whale removal, western australia, news, politics
## Whale washes up on Perth beach
A 31-tonne humpback whale washed up on City Beach in Perth. The Town of Cambridge was tasked with removing the 13-metre long carcass on September 27.
## Removal cost nearly $180,000
The whale was transported to Red Hill landfill on October 1 using a 72-tonne crane.
## Mayor explains unexpected costs
Cambridge Mayor Gary Mack said the 44-kilometre journey involved several costly moving parts. Specialist cranes, sealed trucks to prevent whale exudate on the freeway, and crowd control added up.

> Hiring specialist cranes and their operators was an additional expense that we didn't fully anticipate.
## City removal costs more than regional
The City of Karratha spent ten thousand dollars removing a 14-metre humpback in 2009. The City of Stirling spent one hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars removing a 17-metre whale from Scarborough Beach in 2014.
## Council seeks state funding help
The Town of Cambridge will call on the state government to establish a state-funded whale carcass response mechanism on October 27. If denied, the council will pull funding from already-approved infrastructure projects.

> We can't increase the rates because the rates have already been sent out and people have paid their rates.
## Key takeaway

The Town of Cambridge spent one hundred eighty thousand dollars removing a humpback whale from City Beach, and is asking the state government to help pay.