Mammoth effort underway to remove whale carcass from Perth beach

Heavy machinery is needed to move the carcass, which weighs more than 30 tonnes. ( ABC News: Lucy Murray )

Large machinery has been moved onto City Beach in Perth as a mammoth operation gets underway to remove a 13-metre humpback whale carcass.

The beach has been completely closed and crowds have been asked to stay away while contractors lift the 31-tonne carcass and transport it to landfill, where it will be buried.

City Beach will remain closed until it is cleared of all whale remnants. ( ABC News: Lucy Murray )

Town of Cambridge staff are guarding every access to the beach and are warning that anyone who enters the sand or flies a drone above workers will be fined $250.

The whale washed ashore early Monday morning and several sharks have been seen circling close to shore, including a 5-metre white shark.

"We also ask people to not fly drones over the area, that has been interfering with the operations, it's very distracting to the workers," Town of Cambridge Mayor Gary Mack said.

"We've got rangers down there, we've got parks and garden staff down there to help out. It's a big operation, we've actually diverted staff away from their normal job down here."

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