A NEWLY formed community group is taking a stand against the City of Kalamunda’s proposed commercial lease of Jorgensen Park, concerned the event could push local populations of threatened black cockatoos to the brink of extinction.

The Jorgensen Park Community Action Group (JPCAG) has launched a campaign to halt the four-to-five-month lease until a full assessment is conducted by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The group argues this review is required under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act 1999, which mandates oversight for any action on Commonwealth land likely to have significant environmental impact.

As reported in Kalamunda residents call for public park transparency, a 15ha portion of the park is expected to be used for an undisclosed ticketed event likely to include strobing lights and sounds that could have damaging effects on local wildlife.

JPCAG member Alan Malcom said the community is worried about the event’s impacts on three endangered black cockatoo species, which use the site as a nexus for foraging and roosting.

“When somebody is proposing to take an action that will have a potentially significant impact on endangered species in the area, they have to go through an assessment process,” he said.

“This is outlined in the EPBC, but the council, regarding this issue in the community questions they’ve answered, have stated they don’t think this needs an assessment.

“Our group, respectfully, believes that to be entirely incorrect.”

Mr Malcom said while the immediate disturbances are a concern, the long-term implications for the species’ future reproduction is even more critical.

“The current rate is that they’re only producing 0.6 of a chick every year, which doesn’t even replace one of the adults,” he said.

“Anything that tips the balance between them being healthy enough to breed or not must be considered before something like this event goes ahead.

“Contrary to what people might think, this isn’t about being NIMBY’s, it’s about the effect this could have on a species that needs that area to survive.

“It’s just the wrong place, at the wrong time of year, at the wrong time of day, and for far too long of a duration.”

Data from Birdlife WA from their 2025 Great Cocky Count confirms the 15ha event footprint directly overlaps documented roosting sites for three threatened species: the critically endangered Baudin’s cockatoo, the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo, and the vulnerable Forest red-tailed black cockatoo.

A public petition against the event on Change.org has recently surpassed 1600 signatures as of March 24.

“There are several levels to this, ranging from neighbours concerned about the noise and disruption, park users worried about losing access for walking and biking, and groups like ours who believe it is wrong because of the impact on endangered species,” he said.

“I know other groups have legitimate concerns, but to me, the danger impacting these threatened species seems to be the most powerful argument against this proposal.”

The action group is calling for the city to commit to a full environmental review before the event goes ahead in April.

“Our aim is to prevent this event from proceeding in this location, because we believe the combined factors of lighting, noise, and duration present a significant impact on endangered species,” Mr Malcom said.

“An assessment on the impact this could have on the cockatoo’s roosting in the area should be done before any future decisions are made.”