Lara Kempnich shared footage of a whale carcass that washed up on the southern side of Pottsville Creek, captured earlier today. The remains are believed to be from a juvenile humpback whale measuring approximately 10 metres, which had previously come ashore near Mooball Beach (also known as Black Rocks) in October last year.
In her post on the local community Facebook page, Kempnich detailed her discovery, stating that it took her a moment to identify the large corpse but recognized it as a baby whale upon closer inspection. Although she noted that she did not perceive any odour from the carcass, she suspected that wind conditions may have played a role.
The discovery sparked conversations among locals on social media, with many suggesting it was only a matter of time before the whale appeared on their shores. The 15-tonne carcass, which had significantly decomposed, was ultimately buried in the dunes behind the beach following guidelines from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in October 2024. The NPWS confirmed that the burial location was deliberately chosen, being situated above the water table and tideline, which they stated would not harm the environment or provoke increased shark activity.
The method of disposal was said to align with contemporary research practices. This approach was taken after consultations with the Tweed Shire Council, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and the local Aboriginal Land Council Rangers. Despite this, community opinions varied, with some residents insisting that the carcass should have been disposed of by towing it out to sea instead.
For further information, the Tweed Shire Council has been contacted for comment regarding the handling of the situation.