A film about a proposal to turn Wilbinga, a locality north of Two Rocks and south of Guilderton, into a national park is screening at Luna Palace Cinemas today Thursday, May 21.
The screening in Leederville includes a panel with representation from “the Yued people, with their enduring cultural connection to Country to the passionate Wilbinga Shacks Crew working to protect the dunes as well from long-time locals and naturalists who bring to life the black cockatoos, small mammals and the incredible biodiversity of the unique landscape”.
Wilbinga lies between Two Rocks and the southern side of the Moore River mouth with the town of Guilderton on the estuary’s north side.
On official maps such as Emergency WA the Wilbinga conservation area is usually called unnamed WA49994 conservation park.
Friends of Moore River Estuary (FOMRE) want the proposed national park to include shire reserves, reserves currently under the management of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), unallocated Crown land or state forest in addition to 2103ha of privately-owned land in the north-west corner and two other privately-owned blocks totalling 200ha bordering the south bank of the Moore River.
Promotion for the documentary film said Wilbinga was a place for everyone to enjoy, while safeguarding the rich diversity of native birds, animals, trees and plants that call it home.
Minutes from the FOMRE annual general meeting in April said the primary reason Wilbinga should become a national park was the outstanding condition of the flora and diversity of the fauna.
“There are also a number of endangered species, some which are endemic to this area,’’ the minutes said.
Other reasons cited for the zoning of a national park included that it would prevent an unsustainable proposed development on the south side of the Moore River estuary, it had the support from the Yued Corporation and Traditional Owners of the area, it would provide a green belt for the people of Perth (the Kings Park of the north) and it would produce a natural boundary to the northern suburban sprawl.
Local volunteers, FMRE, Traditional Owners and the Conservation Council of Western Australia and Wilbinga advocates say the proposal would permanently protect land for future generations – preserving biodiversity, cultural connection, recreation and public access while helping draw a true “line in the sand” against endless urban sprawl.
Wilbinga Shacks Crew is a group of responsible and caring outdoor recreational enthusiasts who are keen to maintain sustainable future access to the beaches of the Wilbinga Conservation Park.
A petition calling for Wilbinga to become a national park, tabled in Parliament by MLC Brad Pettitt, had 2011 signatures when it closed on April 21.
Wilbinga Shacks Crew liaison officer Geoff Couper said they could not comment about the strategic management of the conservation area.
Mr Couper said the Wilbinga Shacks Crew were Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) volunteers and were duty bound to their adoption agreement with Parks and Wildlife via DBCA and as volunteers they were under the same policy and procedures as if they were employed by DBCA.
He said Friends of Wilbinga were free to comment anything they wanted socially as individuals but not as representing the Wilbinga Shacks Crew.
This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 21 May 2026.
