Cockburn is home to a number of conservation reserves and wetlands. These areas provide habitat for flora and fauna. Many of the City’s conservation areas have walking and cycle trails, BBQs, playgrounds and public amenities. Please report litter and trail bike riding in conservation areas to the City’s Rangers.
Beeliar and Jandakot Regional Parks
The Beeliar and Jandakot Regional Parks feature conservation reserves and wetlands. The Regional Parks contain hundreds of hectares of bushland and provide habitat for many species of flora and fauna. Visitors can enjoy their environmental values as well as walk and cycle trails, BBQs and picnic facilities and playgrounds.
The Beeliar Regional Park includes two chains of wetlands which run through the City from north to south. This includes Thomson's Lake, which is a wetland of international significance. Please contact the Department of Parks and Wildlife for more information on the Beeliar and Jandakot Regional Parks.
Conservation reserves in Cockburn
The City is home to a number of conservation reserves, which offer a range of recreational, environmental and leisure activities.
Manning Lake Reserve
Manning Lake Reserve is one of the City’s most popular conservation reserves and is located close to the coast. The area is part of the Beeliar Regional Park and is a Bush Forever site. This reserve includes the limestone ridge to the west, which is home to the Manning Stairs and Lookouts.
Manning Lake flora ranges from wetland dependent vegetation such as Freshwater Paperbark (Melaleuca rhapiophylla and Baumea juncea), to upland vegetation such as the Chenille Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca huegelii) and Parrot bush (Dryandra sessilis).
A variety of native fauna can be found at Manning Lake, including frogs, reptiles and birds. These include the Motorbike Frog (Littoria moorei), Western Bluetongue (Tiliqua rugosa rugosa) and Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica).
Bibra Lake Reserve
The Bibra Lake Reserve is located in the northern part of Cockburn on Progress Drive. Bibra Lake is part of the Beeliar Regional Park and is a Bush Forever site. It has many environmental, heritage and recreational values and is also regarded as a sacred site by the Aboriginal community.
Bibra Lake is accessible for all. You can take a stroll along the dual paths or go for a ride on your bike. The reserve has many shaded picnic and BBQ areas and there are toilet and drinking water facilities onsite. The Bibra Lake Regional Playground is an accessible and state-of-the-art nature playground along the western side of the reserve.
There is a bird hide situated on the eastern side of the Lake near the dual use path. This is a perfect spot to take out the binoculars and look for a variety of birds including Black Swans, Australasian Shovelers and many more.
Redemptora Reserve
Redemptora Reserve is a small (less than four hectare) reserve situated on a rise near the coast on Redemptora Road in Henderson. Despite being surrounded by ship-building industries, the views are spectacular from this reserve. The reserve is a good example of the low coastal heath that once dominated this area. This small remnant is important as it still supplies habitat for an range of wildlife including bandicoots, birds and reptiles.
Banksia Eucalypt Woodland Reserve
The Banksia Eucalypt Woodland Reserve is situated in the suburb of Aubin Grove and is a Bush Forever site and part of the Jandakot Regional Park. This large reserve is biologically diverse and contains a variety of native flora and fauna.
Banksia Eucalypt Woodland Reserve is enjoyed by wildflower enthusiasts during spring when an amazing array of native wildflowers is on show. The reserve also has walking and cycling paths
Yangebup Lake and Little Rush Lake Reserves
Yangebup and Little Rush Lake Reserves are located in the suburb of Yangebup and are part of the Beeliar Regional Park. The reserves are home to significant fauna such as bandicoots, possums, frogs, turtles, reptiles and a wide variety of bird species. A living stream has been established on the eastern side of the reserve to help improve water quality at the lake and to provide habitat for frogs and birds. The reserves are easily accessible and have walking and cycling trails and playgrounds.
Denis de Young Reserve
Denis de Young Reserve is an 84 hectare conservation reserve in Banjup. It contains remnant Banksia Woodland and Melaleuca Paperbark dampland communities. It is Bush Forever site and is part of the Jandakot Regional Park. The Reserve has over 300 species of plants, including many rare types, and provides refuge and habitat for over 150 animal species. Fauna species include Bandicoots, Grey Kangaroo, New Holland Honeyeater, Fairy Wren and the Silvereye. Denis de Young offers a variety of recreational uses such as walking, bird watching and wildflower spotting.
Market Garden Swamps
Market Garden Swamps are made up of three adjoining wetlands, and are located in the suburbs of Spearwood and Munster. These wetlands are important community conservation and passive recreation areas and are part of the Beeliar Regional Park. The wetland system is considered an indigenous heritage site and boasts several native plants and animals such as the Western Long-necked turtle bandicoots and the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo. The Market Garden Swamps are accessible and include walking and cycling trails, BBQs, picnic areas and playgrounds.
Protect our conservation reserves and wetlands
Together, we can reduce negative impacts on the bushland and protect them for current and future generations.
Off-road vehicles and trail bikes in conservation reserves
If you see 4 x 4 vehicles or trail bikes in the reserve, you can help by recording the date, time, vehicle description, licence or address of the offending driver and notify the City’s Rangers. Trail bike and four-wheel drive vehicles are not permitted off-road in the City’s conservation reserves.
Dogs in conservation reserves
Dogs must be on leads at all times in conservation reserves and around wetland areas. Please see information on dog off-lead exercise areas in Cockburn.
Litter in conservation reserves
If you witness rubbish dumping you can help by recording the date, time, vehicle description and licence, or the address of the person and notify the Rangers Department. Rubbish dumping can damage native vegetation, injure wildlife and spread weeds.
Local conservation and wildlife organisations and groups
The Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre and Native ARC (Animal Rehabilitation Centre) are not-for-profit conservation and wildlife groups in Cockburn. They are located next to each other on Hope Road in Bibra Lake.
The Wetlands Centre, Cockburn
The Wetlands Centre, Cockburn is a not-for-profit community organisation that is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands, environmental education, training, and youth services.
WA Wildlife
WA Wildlife (formerly Native ARC) is a nonprofit organisation that rescues, treats and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. The charity also provides educational opportunities and training programs to the public, schools and corporates and participates in a range of research and conservation projects.
Join a local conservation group
Do you want to have fun, meet like-minded people and be part of a community group who has a genuine concern for their local environment? Friends-of groups consist of volunteers from the community who help conserve local bush, coastal and wetland areas through a variety of activities such as planting days. Contact us to find out more and register your interest.
Please contact Environmental Services for more information on conservation reserves and wetlands in Cockburn on 08 9411 3444 or at [email protected]