Buried Pottsville Whale Exhumed By Big Seas
Back in October, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) buried a dead whale that had been washed ashore south of Pottsville, northen NSW.
The NPWS said the method of burial was consistent with the latest research, yet it went against the wishes of the community who wanted the carcass removed from the beach. Decomposing matter leaching into groundwater and attracting sharks was the primary concern.
The site chosen for the carcass also caused a stir as it was buried only twenty metres from the tide line in an area that eroded in August, 2024.
Four months later, the waves from Tropical Cyclone Alfred have eroded the same area and NPWS' 'out of mind, out of sight' solution has backfired.
Lara Kempnich
Yesterday, the carcass was exhumed and it's come to rest approximately 3.5km north of the burial site, against the southern breakwall of the Mooball Creek entrance.
The location, however, puts it out of NPWS land and makes it the problem of the Tweed Shire Council. There's been no word yet what they'll do to dispose of it.
In 2016, a sperm whale was exhumed at Casuarina Beach, also on the Tweed Coast, after locals voiced their concern at Tweed Council for burying it in the foredune. Then in 2017, buried whales were exhumed at Ballina and Port Macquarie following public backlash.
Comments
Is this news worthy? I thouht turning off the cams would of been a better alround discussion,,,,,
Newsworthy because it was a dubious place to bury, as our original article stated.
Not sure what you mean by the camera quip.
On his camera quip..the influence of a new Surfline camera on the crowds where I'm now living - in just 12 months - is totally measurable.
I wonder if it's akin to cigarette advertising in the '70's. Or online gambling in the AFL now; which had bi-partisan legislation quashed by an insipid elected government. Do we just give up as long-term surfers "that's the way the world is now..sigh"..or fight back?
"I thouht turning off the cams would of been a better alround discussion."
Ah, got it, you think we've turned the cyclone-impacted cameras off.
Be nice to live in a media bubble sometimes.
Hey Stunet, had read that article with a blind eye. I apologize for the frivolous comment.
Now it'll probably drift closer to a town to the North and be a nice little shark smorgasboard.
Nice work Tweed Shire Council!! Been doing dumb shit since the criminal Warren Polglase.
Why listen to the surfers and locals that actually know the area?
Wasn't TSC who buried it.
Ahhh whoops. My bad.
Polglase still a dog though!
The TSC could have helped out if they wanted. They had capable machinery working in the area at the time and also control the landfill sites. I blame both of them.
TSC in conjunction with NPWS. Same shit different smell.
And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for five months, the whale passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new ride on the ocean...
Haha brilliant @vj!
Photog any relation to Alan?
Had a magic 6’6 pintail from him once.
Zombie-Dick
Best I could do, sorry.
Don't get dumb decisions in the first place. Let's fix a road that doesn't need fixing and let a certain known road caus problems is what i see.
If you stuck on an Island full of characters, you could write a whale of a tale.
Pwoar.
A few days in the sun, and the stench will be bringing tears to a glass eye.
I thought that the decision to bury was made after consultation with the locals TO’s?
I thought that the decision to bury was made after consultation with the locals TO’s?
Rancid dead whales have rights.. everyone knows that. Activists get out of bed now!! Plastic placards!!
Maybe someone could create a business from old smelly. Some new $takeholders could cash in cha ching. You know, grants and donations and such..
I didn’t mention to trigger a rant champ. Facts are, every beach from Cape Byron to the boarder is subject to a native title claim, which I’m 100% okay with. The Tweed/Byron land council mob will do a better job than council and National Parks of protecting the beaches
Whatever..
Cool reply. I guess you did just want a rant and don’t actually GAF about our beaches. As you were
Just havin a bit of fun.. lighten up Karen.
Yes, this was pretty gross to see as a local. Hopefully it's been washed away from being jammed right up in the corner of the rock wall and some inside the creek. The rogue swell dropped pretty quickly though.
" It'll be sweet they said, just bury it 'x' amount from the low tide mark and she'll be apples" They quoted some BS Professors Paper on it not leaching. The whale originally landed just inside the Wooyung National Park, which had the Park Rangers leave it on the shore for days. Then they made the wise decision to push it with a Dozer, a couple hundred meters north into Tweed Shire Council. After locals complained, both sides washed their hands of it. And well, the humble Ocean and Alf got together to shame that silly plan. None of the locals wanted this to begin with and I'm guessing no one will clean it up if stays perched where it is. Always good to know our rates go to funding woke fucktards. #rantover
Did 'woke' jump the shark to reach the dead whale?
woooahh... dying woke just rolled over for a giggle..
Who even says “wOkE” anymore? Only Skynews fanboys
Any updates from Potty?
Yes, the whale is wedged on top of rocks, nearly into the creek but out of reach of the tide. Stuck in a very hard to reach place. Once the river cleans up, this is a prime spot for families and locals to swim. It stinks so bad.
Comes back to the "Why didn't they follow the NSW State Laws the 1st time round?" Which is to get rid of the carcass and dispose at local refuse center. The National Parks Services dropped the ball with the idiots at Tweed Council colluding and fumbling along with the whole experience.
Apparently the whale carcass was removed today.
That would be a horrible job removing that. Imagine the fumes coming off that putrid whale zombie, probably better with a hazmat suit and breathing apparatus and appropriate compensation