THE Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association (BNAA) is set to host a free community festival on Saturday, October 18 at Mundaring Sculpture Park.

The event, named the Mandoon Bilya BioBlitz Festival, is a community initiative designed to celebrate local culture and conservation efforts surrounding the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River).

The free festival is part of BNAA’s BoorYul-Bah-Bilya program which focus on restoring local ecosystems and strengthening community ties to the river.

The day’s schedule includes a range of activities for attendees, such as live performances, appearances by guest speakers, face painting, and giveaways. Local food trucks will be in attendance, alongside community stalls providing information on conservation and citizen science projects aimed at caring for Country.

With the popular Mundaring Garden and Farmers Market right next door and the Mundaring Hills Open Studios opening that same day, the Mandoon Bilya BioBlitz Festival is set to contribute to a significant day of community activity in the area.

The festival is the culmination of a week-long series of smaller BioBlitz events conducted along the Helena River, running from October 13 to 19.

These preceding events include a scavenger hunt designed to involve local schools and the public in recording the maximum number of animal and plant species possible within a specific timeframe.

The data gathered during the BioBlitz scavenger hunt is intended to support the proposed Mandoon Bilya Regional Riverpark and will be used to inform BNAA’s subsequent river restoration efforts.

BNAA is encouraging public participation in the week-long BioBlitz by visiting local parks along the Helena River between October 13 and 19 and documenting any encountered plants or animals, for sharing on social media.

For more information concerning the festival and related events, visit the official BNAA website.