An excavator will be brought in to remove a putrifying, stinky whale carcass from a popular capital city beach.
The massive dead mammal, estimated to weigh more than 30 tonnes, has attracted hordes of curious onlookers to Perth's City Beach since surf lifesavers spotted it on Monday morning.
Sharks have also been lurking, and the beach remains closed for several kilometres in both directions amid fears a swimmer could be attacked.
The Town of Cambridge council says an excavator will be brought to the popular swimming spot on Tuesday morning to start the removal operation
“This is a complex and potentially hazardous operation involving a carcass approximately 13-metres long and weighing an estimated 31 tonnes," a spokesman said.
An exclusion area around the whale will be extended along the length of the beach to stop people getting too close to the dead animal and the crews working to remove it.
“Unfortunately, some people have breached the existing barriers," the spokesman said.
"Anyone who disregards the barriers or lawful directions may be issued with an infringement."
The council also took aim at drone operators, who have posted footage of sharks swimming near the carcass while crowds flock to the site.
"Following removal, the town will consider any remaining material, shark activity, official agency advice and local conditions before deciding when the beaches can safely reopen," the spokesman said.
Mayor Gary Mack said towing the carcass out to sea was not feasible and the council would remove it by truck.
"As putrefaction occurs, there's an odour issue," he said.
Mr Mack said he wasn't sure how much it would cost, but it would likely be several hundred thousand dollars.
"It is not cheap ... 12 years ago, as best I can recall, it was around about $170,000," he said, referring to the removal of a whale carcass from nearby Scarborough Beach.
"I would anticipate that'd be double now."
Multiple sharks have been spotted in the water near the dead whale, including a five-metre white shark.
"The carcass itself attracts sharks, and you know that's what we don't want," Mr Mack said.
"We've already had a fatality fairly recently from a shark attack at Sorrento Beach, and we don't want that to happen again."
Greg O’Neill, 63, was killed in a shark attack 11 days ago while swimming close to shore at Sorrento, about 14km north of City Beach.
"I'm concerned that people should not go in the water at all, not even put their feet in the water," Mr Mack said.
"It's a very high-risk scenario. I would also recommend that people don't allow their dogs to go into the water because they could just easily be taken by sharks."
Onlookers have been in awe of the sharks patrolling the waters near the dead whale.
Their silhouettes could be seen in the waves, swimming up and down the coast.
