Ratepayers Bear Cost of Government's Lethal Shark Net
Wollongong City Council has been left furious after the NSW government refused to cover the $44,000 cost of removing a young humpback whale killed by one of its shark nets, leaving local ratepayers to foot the bill. The five-tonne male whale drowned after becoming entangled in the Coledale shark net before washing up on rocks near Scarborough beach in late October.
Dangerous Recovery Operation
Council contractors from Avcon Industrial and Response faced extremely hazardous conditions during the removal operation. The team worked on slippery rock shelves with wave movement and tidal challenges while multiple great white sharks circled nearby, attracted by the carcass. Council General Manager Greg Doyle had formally requested Primary Industries Minister Tara Moriarty cover the costs, highlighting the complex and high-risk nature of the work.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed it would maintain the current practice where councils remain responsible for cleaning up dead marine animals on their beaches. This stance comes despite the whale's death being directly caused by the state government's shark net program.
Council Calls for Net Removal
Wollongong City Council has long opposed shark nets, calling for their phase-out back in 2021 in favour of more effective and less deadly technology. Councillor Jess Whittaker expressed frustration that the whale could have been handled much more safely at sea when first discovered rather than being left to wash up on dangerous rocks.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding shark nets, which consistently kill non-target marine species while providing questionable safety benefits. Beaches along the coast were closed for a week due to increased shark activity attracted by the whale carcass, creating what Councillor Whittaker described as a situation where shark nets actually made the area less safe for swimmers.
The council did receive minor financial relief through an $811 fee exemption on the NSW EPA waste levy for the 4.7-tonne whale carcass disposal at Whytes Gully Resource Recovery Park. However, the majority of the significant removal costs will now be borne by Wollongong ratepayers for a death caused by state government infrastructure.
