Wedge Island (Western Australia)

Wedge Island is a 400-metre (1,300 ft) long wedge shaped island north of Lancelin and south of Cervantes on the Western Australian coast. The island is located just south of “the point” and approximately 15km south-east of an informal settlement known as Grey village with which it often shares a name. Both are within the Shire of Dandaragan.

It is located within the Jurien Bay Marine Park and part of the Wedge Island Nature Reserve.

Geography
The island occupies an area 4.03 ha and is situated 200 m from the mainland. The island has a maximum elevation of 21 m.

It lies within the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group, a chain of 40 islands spread over a distance of 150 km from north to south.

Wedge can also be accessed in a 4WD vehicle, via the beach if the tide is out. However the beach is very soft during summer and many vehicles become bogged or are swept into the water. Vehicles also have the environmental effect of compacting the sand.

The Lancelin Defence Training Area is in the dunes south-east of Wedge. There is no access through the military range. Trespassers face large fines and possible loss of their vehicle if caught.

History
Wedge Island was named after government surveyor Charles Wedge, in 1875 by Staff-Commander William Edwin Archdeacon R.N., who was in charge of the Admiralty survey of the coast of  Western  Australia.

The first shacks were constructed in the 1940's. The settlement is now home to approximately 350 beach shacks on unvested land that are used by crayfishermen and holiday-goers. A new sealed road, Indian Ocean Drive was opened in September 2010 which provides 2WD access to Wedge. There are claims that this has changed the local environment. The road, intended to promote tourism is well known for a number of serious vehicle crashes since it opened.

Wedge is often quiet during the cooler months but during major public holidays such as Christmas, New Year's Day and Australia Day there are people in nearly every shack. Camping in the area is now officially prohibited. However it has been estimated that 14,000 individuals may use the shacks at Wedge and Grey. There is no running water, no boat ramp and generators are common without mains electricity. Wedge has an informal first aid post. Activities include four wheel driving, sand boarding, surfing and kitesurfing, fishing, swimming and snorkeling. Motorbike riding has been banned in the area surrounding Wedge Island after many accidents resulted in people needing to be air lifted to get medical attention. The ranger now hands out fines to those caught using unlicensed vehicles in the vicinity, or leaving rubbish there.

A man was fatally stabbed during a beach party on the northern side of Wedge in December 2013, after a brawl broke out. The New Year's Eve party involved more than 600 people.

The WA Government has considered the removal of the shacks on Wedge in line with government policy. In March 2010, the Minister for the Environment Donna Faragher announced that she would not be seeking an end to the leases at Wedge and Grey until compromise options were considered by government.

In April 2011, a WA Legislative Council Standing Committee found that coastal shacks should be removed to protect the environment from "unplanned growth". The shack leases were due to expire on 30 June 2011 but the Wedge community won a one-year renewal for all occupied facilities.

Following amendments to the Conservation and Land Management Act in 2012, the Department of Parks and Wildlife said it no longer had the power to provide leases there. The Western Australian Government has authorised the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to issue licences to shack owners under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.

Wedge and Grey are in an area subject to summer bushfires and visitors in beach shacks are sometimes asked to relocate. At present solid fuel fires are banned at Wedge between November and March. Campfires are also prohibited for some public holidays.