17 NSW beaches closed as dead whale attracts great white sharks
More than a dozen NSW beaches have been forced to close after a whale carcass attracted sharks over the weekend.
Surf Life Saving NSW said it had to shut down 17 beaches across the Far North Coast over the long weekend including Salt, Casuarina, Cabarita, Hastings, North Pottsville and South Pottsville after the carcass attracted white sharks.
The whale washed up on a beach south of Casuarina on the state’s north coast on Monday, which was also the Labour Day public holiday in NSW.
Tweed Shire Council, the Department of Primary Industries and Surf Life Saving are working to remove the carcass.
Beaches between Salt to Pottsville remain closed.
On Tuesday afternoon, council wrote on Facebook it is moving the whale “up above the high water mark before removing it from the beach”.
“This isn’t nice work for our staff and we kindly ask that the public stay away while the removal takes place,” council wrote.
“The carcass will then be taken to Stotts Creek tip for disposal.”
Sydney beaches closed due to crowds
Beaches in Sydney were also closed briefly as they became crowded and lifesavers became concerned people couldn’t properly socially distance.
North Cronulla beach was closed as were some of the beaches in the Royal National Park south of Sydney – including Wattamolla and Garie beaches.
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