Authorities will dig up a dead humpback whale that washed up at Collendina beach, east of Ocean Grove, after burying the carcass a fortnight ago.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on Wednesday decided to exhume the carcass following public fears it could lure sharks to the area.
Department incident controller Barry James said the operation would be complex.
“We’ve listened to community concerns around the impacts the buried carcass could have on public safety, especially with the busy summer season approaching.
“Over the past week we’ve assessed options for removal of the carcass, which was originally buried as the first option to secure the site for public safety.”
The department would restrict beach access as an “incident management team” removed the remains of the whale from the burial site, Mr James said.
“We ask that people refrain from coming into close proximity with operating equipment.
“Safety for our staff and members of the public is our number-one priority when conducting operations of this type.”The department had consulted Barwon Coast Committee, Geelong’s council and Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club to plan the operation, which it expected to begin this week.
“We’ll be working with the community to reduce impacts and will provide further updates through the week,” Mr James said.
But he warned weather could delay the operation.
“Weather conditions and tidal movements will dictate when and how we undertake the removal, as we need a large amount space to manoeuvre machinery across the beach,” he said.
“The operation may also result in amenity impacts, particularly odours from the carcass.”
Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club last week contacted Bellarine MP Lisa Neville over concerns about the burial being an “ongoing shark attraction”, according to its Facebook page.
Club followers expressed surprise that authorities had buried the carcass when it washed up on 16 November rather than dispose of it away from the beach.
“Should have been towed 50km out to sea on the first day,” Gus Hyne posted, with others expressing similar ideas.
But the department at the time said the burial was “an environmentally-friendly option that allows the whale to naturally decompose”.
