Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – Community Information & FAQs

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is a temporary, ticketed outdoor evening experience designed for visitors to walk through and enjoy an immersive light and sound trail within a natural bushland setting.

The experience is family friendly and operates during evening hours only.

For more information visit: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Perth

The event is currently scheduled to commence from 12 June 2026.

For more information visit: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Perth

Based on current information provided by the event organiser:

• the event will primarily operate Wednesday to Sunday
• operating hours will generally occur between 5.30pm and 11pm
• session times may vary depending on demand and operational requirements

The first week of operation is expected to include a launch period operating seven days per week.

For more information visit: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Perth

The event is operated by FEVER.

For more information visit: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Perth

Jorgensen Park provides a unique natural setting close to the Kalamunda town centre, with existing trail infrastructure and accessibility suited to the operational requirements of the event.

Alternative locations were explored at a high level but were not progressed because they did not meet the event’s physical and operational requirements.

No. The event relates only to a defined portion of Jorgensen Park.

The majority of the reserve will remain accessible to the public throughout the event period.

Yes. While some areas within the event footprint will be temporarily restricted, public access to other areas of Jorgensen Park will remain available.

The City also maintains a network of alternative off-lead dog exercise areas across the district.

 

 

Yes. Event approval has now been formally issued following assessment against the relevant operational, environmental and safety requirements.

The City considered whether development approval was required under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS).

Following consideration of the planning framework and discussions with senior officers from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH), the City determined that the proposal falls within an exemption under clause 29 of the MRS and does not require development approval.

The proposal remains subject to other approvals, conditions and operational requirements.

The proposal required:

• lease and licence arrangements over Crown land
• Ministerial consent under the Land Administration Act 1997
• event approval and operational assessments
• environmental and ecological assessment
• traffic, emergency and safety management planning
• temporary structure and electrical approvals

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water (DCCEEW) 

• Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER)  

• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)

• Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)  

• Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH)  

• Department of Health (DoH) 

• Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation & Safety (LGIRS) 

• Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL) 

• Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)

Review Stage	Reviewer / Agency	Purpose	Key Findings / Outcome
Ecological Assessment / Report received by City	Environmental consultant	Assess potential environmental impacts of proposed event and suggest mitigations to reduce risks.	Assessment identified mitigation measures and management / operational requirements  Overall, the report finds that key ecological values can be protected  No long-term impacts to the area.
Review	City   DWER  EPA	Review methodology, mitigation measures and operational controls	Low environmental impact   Not expected to result in significant effects, such as vegetation clearing or impacts/removal of any threatened species as using existing trails   No threat to the site’s ecological values.  Lighting must be designed to comply with the National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife (2020), to minimise fauna impacts through low-level, directional placement.
Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBCA)  Self-Assessment	City   Environmental Consultant   DCCEEW  EPA	City’s position: proposal is unlikely to result in significant impact, noting that the activity:  is relatively small in scale, the trail is ~1km long  occurs within an area surrounded by extensive alternative habitat  does not involve any known roosting or nesting sites within the event or trail area  has been considered in the context of nearby foraging habitat and the local availability of alternative resources  does not involve clearing or pruning likely to reduce habitat patch size or fragment relevant ecological communities; and  remains subject to appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures, including consideration of black cockatoo habitat and other relevant protected matters identified through the Protected Matters Search Tool.  Pre-referral meeting held with officers from DCCEEW to discuss the proposal, including potential impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), as well as proposed avoidance and mitigation measures and the self-assessment of any potential significant impacts.	DCCEEW advised that small-scale actions with only minor impacts, particularly in areas with abundant alternative habitat or resources, are unlikely to constitute a significant impact under the EPBC Act
Peer Review	Independent third-party environmental consultant commissioned by the City	Independent verification of ecological assessment methodology and mitigation measures proposed	Satisfied that mitigation measures are appropriate if fully implemented
EPA   Third Party Referral	EPA   Third Party / Community	Section 38(1) of the Environmental Protection Act any person may refer a proposal to the EPA if it is considered likely to have a significant effect on the environment  significant proposal is defined as a proposal likely, if implemented, to have a significant environmental impact	The EPA determined that that the proposal was not a significant proposal, and therefore the referral is not valid.
Ornithologist Input	Independent ornithologist commissioned by the City	Site assessment to determine any potential impacts to black cockatoos and habitat	Notes that Carnaby’s Cockatoos are primarily non-breeding birds in the area at this time of year and are commonly present in flocks throughout the Perth Hills.  cockatoo foraging mainly occurs during the day, meaning natural feeding behaviour is unlikely to be significantly impacted  there are no roosting sites within the event area  known roosting areas are located approximately 500m or more from the event site, reducing potential disturbance risk  some tree hollows are present, however there is no evidence of nesting or chicks.  the event is temporary in nature    existing day-to-day activity on site is relevant, noting that:  the area already experiences regular use by people, dogs and bike riders.  local fauna are accustomed to this level of activity and adapt accordingly.  Important to ensure ongoing monitoring and adaptive management to respond if any impacts are identified  ornithologist will return to site to review the final setup and confirm compliance with the recommended mitigation measures.
Agency Consultation (ongoing)	DWER  DBCA  EPA	Ongoing discussions regarding environmental matters	Feedback incorporated into event approval conditions and operational processes
Ongoing Environmental Management	Proponent   City   Ornithologist	Ensure mitigation measures implemented during bump-in and operation  Post event assessment	Monitoring and adaptive management approach in place

Links:

Fauna Assessment_Redacted

EPBC Act Self-Impact Assessment_Redacted

Independent Review of Fauna Assessment Report_Redacted

Summary of Ornithologist Assessment

The proposal was initially subject to a commercial confidentiality agreement (NDA).

This is common practice for major international events involving intellectual property, branding and licensing arrangements prior to public launch.

The NDA related primarily to the public release of event branding, commercial information and promotional details.

The NDA arrangements were lifted following the public launch and promotion of the event by the event operator mid-May 2026.

Yes. Jorgensen Park is managed in accordance with the Jorgensen Park Management Plan (2008).

The plan addresses conservation, recreation and land use considerations and continues to guide management of the reserve today.

Yes. An ecological assessment has been completed by suitably qualified environmental consultants engaged by the event operator.

The City has also commissioned an independent third-party ecological review and specialist ornithological advice relating to black cockatoo habitat and behaviour.

The assessment concludes that:

• the event will primarily utilise existing trails and disturbed areas
• key habitat areas and tree protection zones can be protected
• lighting and sound controls can minimise impacts on wildlife
• no significant long-term environmental impacts are anticipated if mitigation measures are implemented and monitored

Environmental considerations, including black cockatoo habitat and breeding behaviour, have formed a key part of the assessment process.

Specialist ornithological advice has also been obtained as part of the City’s review process.

Seasonal impacts, including breeding periods, have been considered as part of the environmental assessment and mitigation planning process.

Management plans include biosecurity and hygiene controls relating to dieback and Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB).

These measures include vehicle hygiene and operational management requirements where appropriate.

The proposal has been designed to utilise existing paths and disturbed areas wherever possible to minimise environmental impacts.

The offset projects referenced by community members remain in the planning phase and are subject to future funding and delivery timeframes.

Based on current information, there is not expected to be any overlap or conflict between the offsets and the temporary event.

The City has received a range of management and operational plans, including:

• Environmental Management Plan
• Traffic Management Plan
• Noise Management Plan
• Lighting Management Plan
• Emergency Management Plan
• Risk Management Plan
• Waste Management Plan

Some technical reports and management plans are subject to intellectual property, commercial or operational limitations and may not be able to be released in full.

Where possible, the City will provide summaries of key findings, mitigation measures and operational requirements.

The event operator is responsible for implementing the approved management plans and responding to operational issues during the event.

In addition, authorised City officers will undertake regular monitoring and compliance inspections throughout the event period.

Temporary fencing forms part of the approved event setup, operational management and public safety requirements.

Current works include:

• pathway improvements
• remediation works
• temporary fencing installation
• site setup and bump-in activities

Some pathway and mitigation works had already been identified by the City as desirable park management and access improvement works.

Bump-in refers to the setup and installation phase prior to the event opening.

Bump-out refers to the removal of infrastructure and rehabilitation activities following the conclusion of the event.

The material used onsite was sourced through normal industry channels from a reputable supplier and had undergone testing and acceptance processes prior to placement.

Following concerns raised by community members, additional investigations and testing were undertaken.

The City continues to work with relevant authorities and independent specialists regarding the material and any required management actions.

If you have an asbestos-related enquiry, please contact the City at enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au. Your enquiry will be assessed and referred to the appropriate team, and we will aim to respond within 10 business days.

Stage	What Occurred	Who Was Involved	Actions Taken	Outcome / Current Status
Fill sourced	Historically, the site was used at various times as a timber reserve, orchard and golf course, including a clubhouse containing asbestos.    Fill material was delivered to site for trail improvement works.	Contractor   City	Material used onsite was sourced from a reputable supplier and underwent standard testing and acceptance processes prior to placement.	Approximately 400 tonnes of fill approved for use onsite
Community concerns raised	Concerns raised regarding potential asbestos fragments within the fill material.	Community members   City	Matter referred to the City’s Environmental Health team for investigation.  Site inspection undertaken by authorised officers.   Appropriate site safety and control measures were confirmed to be in place at the time of inspection.	Further investigation / sampling initiated
Investigation & Sampling	Sampling, laboratory analysis and reporting undertaken.    Ongoing liaison with consultant, DWER, DoH and WorkSafe regarding findings and management actions.	Independent consultant  DWER   DoH  Work Safe	Sampling, analysis and reporting     Ongoing liaison and review of findings with consultant, DWER, DoH & Work Safe	Fragments were collected from the fill, with some returning a positive result for non-friable asbestos.    The results do not exceed the 0.001% threshold applicable to volume of C&D fill
Surface sweep and inspection of affected area undertaken.	Sweep / emu-pick of area where fill used	Independent consultant  City   DWER  DoH	Targeted sweep and emu-pick undertaken by specialist contractors to identify and remove any visible fragments or contaminants from the surface area.  15 contingency samples collected and analysed.	Findings indicate contamination was limited and appropriately mitigated through the surface remediation process.

If you have an asbestos-related enquiry, please contact the City at enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au. Your enquiry will be assessed and referred to the appropriate team, and we will aim to respond within 10 business days.

Compliance Note:
Noise and lighting management plans form part of the approval process and include mitigation measures designed to minimise impacts on nearby residents and wildlife.

Compliance Note:
Noise and lighting management plans form part of the approval process and include mitigation measures designed to minimise impacts on nearby residents and wildlife.

 

Compliance Note:
Traffic and parking management forms part of the operational planning process.

Measures include traffic management planning, transport arrangements and operational controls.

During the operational phase of the event, event-related operational enquiries should be directed to the event operator in the first instance.

The City will continue to oversee compliance with approval conditions and regulatory requirements.

The City has undertaken direct engagement with nearby residents and will continue to provide operational updates where appropriate.

Yes.

The event is subject to approval conditions, and the operator is responsible for monitoring impacts and responding to operational issues.

Authorised City officers will also undertake regular compliance inspections and monitoring activities throughout the event period.

As unauthorised access and vandalism at the event site continues, it has been necessary for the applicant to develop a substantially revised plan in response to the changing circumstances.  

The event operator is responsible for day-to-day event operations and management.

The City retains oversight regarding compliance with approval conditions and public safety obligations.

The City regularly receives proposals relating to the use of public land.

Each proposal is assessed against environmental, operational, statutory and community considerations before decisions are made.

Stage	Estimate / Data Source	What It Included	Notes
Early Economic Estimates / Modelling	Preliminary modelling    Using economy.id	Based 90 day period  The modelling includes assumptions for additional visitor spending within the local area such as:  food and beverage  retail purchases  fuel  transport and   other incidental spending	Initial high-level estimate only based on information available at that time  ~$23.2M output  ~$12.1M value add  ~204 FTE jobs supported    ~$18M direct visitor spend
Current Forecasts	Updated modelling estimates	Based on updated information from event management plan / event approval (appx. 50 event days)   The modelling includes assumptions for additional visitor spending within the local area such as:  food and beverage  retail purchases  fuel  transport and   other incidental spending  The figures reflect the best information available at the time.	Estimate only:  ~12.2M output  ~ 6.38M value add  ~ 96 FTE jobs supported    ~10M direct visitor spend
Direct Financial Benefits	Lease  Application / Approval income	Revenue received directly by the City	remedial improvements to the existing trails to improve surface condition, drainage, and usability  enduring public benefit by:  supporting increased community use   improving overall user experience
Measured Event Data (Post Event)	Actual event data and monitoring	Measured event data post-event may include   attendance numbers  visitation patterns  accommodation usage,  local business spend  community and visitor sentiment  and local employment opportunities generated through event operations, contractors and supporting services.	Will assess actual outcomes and inform future events

 

The estimated economic impact is expected to occur progressively over the duration of the event, including bump-in, operational and bump-out periods, with the majority of spending occurring during event operations as visitors attend and spend within the local area.

The economic benefits are expected to flow to the event provider, to local businesses and to industries including hospitality, tourism, retail, accommodation, transport, and event services. Revenue is generated through visitor spending on items such as tickets, food and beverage, shopping, fuel, transport and other incidental purchases within the City and surrounding area. 

 

 

Yes. Previous versions of the FAQs and earlier project updates remain available for transparency and historical reference.

These archived pages reflect information available at specific points in time as the proposal progressed through assessment, approvals and operational planning.