Shire of Dandaragan

Wongonderrah Nature Reserve

The Wongonderrah Nature Reserve covers ~595 ha and is located north of Cataby.

Watheroo National Park

The Watheroo National Park covers ~ 59 786 ha and at the boundary between the Shires of Coorow, Moora and Dandaragan. The national park contains Jingemia Cave, borders on Pinjarrega Nature Reserve and extends to the banks of the Moore River. Vegetation in the park is characterised by low sandplain heath and Banksia and Mallee thicket, and produces abundant displays of wildflowers in spring.

Wanagarren Nature Reserve

The Wanagarren Nature Reserve covers ~15 055 ha and is located near Wedge Island. The reserve is a good location from which to explore the Jurien Bay Marine Park and the beaches at Wedge and Grey.

Twyata Nature Reserve

The Twyata Nature Reserve covers ~205 ha and is located north of Badgingarra National Park.

Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve

Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve was gazetted in 1979 and covers ~15 000 ha. The reserve extends to the high water mark, borders on Nambung National Park and the town of Cervantes and was initially established for flora conservation and apiculture. The occurrence of Tuart Eucalyptus gomphocephala is significant being near the northern limit of its range.

Quins Hill Nature Reserve

The Quins Hill Nature Reserve covers ~11 ha and is located in the Red Gully area east of Regan’s Ford.

Namming and South Mimegarra Nature Reserves

The Namming Nature Reserve covers ~7 215 ha and the adjacent South Mimegarra Nature Reserve covers ~473 ha. The reserves are located just west of Regan’s Ford.

Nambung National Park

The Nambung National Park was created in 1994 by combining three separate reserves, one of which is the Pinnacles Desert gazetted in 1967, and covers ~26 250 ha.  The park is also known for its beautiful beaches, coastal dunes and spectacular spring flower displays. Lake Thetis, home to stromatolites built by micro-organisms too small to see, is located in the northern end of the park.

Moochamulla Nature Reserve

The Moochamulla Nature Reserve covers ~57 ha and is located along the banks of the Moore River in the Red Gully area east of Regan’s Ford.

Minyulo Nature Reserve

The Minyulo Nature Reserve covers ~262 ha and is located near Dandaragan.

Manaling Nature Reserve

The Manaling Nature Reserve covers ~285 ha and is located east of Badgingarra.

Lesueur National Park

The Lesueur National Park covers ~36 510 ha and is one of the most important flora conservation reserves in Western Australia. The park is home to around 900 native plant species, representing 10% of Western Australian flora. Birds and reptiles, including the Endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris, are abundant in the park.

Jam Hill Nature Reserve

The Jam Hill Nature Reserve covers ~248 ha and is located south east of Dandaragan.

Hill River Nature Reserve

The Hill River Nature Reserve covers ~1 138 ha and is located along the banks of the Hill River just inland of Jurien Bay.

Eneminga Nature Reserve

The Eneminga Nature Reserve covers ~1 007 ha and is located south of Cataby.

Drovers Cave National Park

The Drovers Cave National Park was gazetted in 1973 and covers ~3 447 ha inland of Jurien Bay. The reserve is home to a number of limestone caves including Drovers, Hastings, Moorba, Old River and Mystery caves. Native flora within the park include shrub banksia, one-sided bottlebrush and parrot bush and the park supports many reptile species.

Coomallo Nature Reserve

The Coomallo Nature Reserve covers ~11 786 ha and, together with Leseuer National Park, is an area of outstanding flora conservation value. The area’s exceptionally diverse flora of more than 900 species represents 10% of Western Australia’s known flora. The Coomallo Important Bird Area supports at least 1% of the breeding population of Endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.

Cervantes Islands Nature Reserve

The Cervantes Islands Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are all part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. North Cervantes supports more than 50 plant species and all three Cervantes islands are used as haul out and foraging sites by Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinerea.

Bundarra Nature Reserve

The Bundarra Nature Reserve covers ~290 ha and is located east of Regan’s Ford.

Buller, Whittell & Green Islands Nature Reserve

The Buller, Whittell & Green Islands Nature Reserve was gazetted in 1989 and now forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are all part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. Buller Island is one of the few breeding sites for Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinerea in Western Australia.

Boullanger, Whitlock, Favourite, Tern & Osprey Islands Nature Reserve

These islands form part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are all part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group and among the few populations of Endangered Dibbler Parantechinus apicalis in the Northern Agricultural Region are found on Boullanger and Whitlock Islands, where plant diversity is relatively high.

Boothendarra Nature Reserve

The Boothendarra Nature Reserve covers ~2 800 ha and is located near to Badgingarra.

Beekeepers Nature Reserve

Beekeepers Nature Reserve extends from Jurien Bay to just south of Dongara, covering ~88 000 ha. A great variety of wildflowers can be seen in the reserve during the season.

Badgingarra National Park

The Badgingarra National Park was declared in 1973 and covers an approximate area of 17,600 hectares. The park features high breakaway country overlooking low undulating sandplains and is renowned for its incredible diversity of endemic wildflowers. Some of the interesting plants that can be found within the park include rare species such as the Badgingarra Mallee Eucalyptus pendens.

Conservation significant fauna in the Northern Agricultural Region

For more information about fauna in the NAR visit the fauna theme page, and check out the list of Conservation Significant Fauna.

Swan Coastal Plain subregion (Swan Coastal Plain 2)

The Swan Coastal Plain is located in the southern LGAs. This subregion is dominated by Banksia and Tuart on sandy soils. Dominating the outwash plains of the region are Casuarina obesa, whilst paperbark typically dominates the swampy areas. In the east the Jarrah woodlands are dominant (Mitchell et. al., 2002).

Dandaragan Plateau subregion (Swan Coastal Plain 1)

The Dandaragan plateau is located in the southern LGAs of the NAR. This subregion is characterised by low woodlands of Banksia, Jarrah-Marri woodlands and scrub heath on laterite pavement and on gravelly sandplain (Desmond, 2001).

Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community D1

Description from Lesueur-Coomaloo Floristic Community D1 Interim recovery plan no. 109 (pg 2):

This community occurs in the Geraldton Sandplains IBRA region and comprises a species-rich low heath, on moderately to well-drained lateritic gravels on lower slopes and low rises, dominated by Allocasuarina microstachya with A. ramosissima, A. humilis, Baeckea grandiflora, Borya nitida, Calytrix flavescens, Calothamnus sanguineous, Conostylis androstemma, Cryptandra pungens, Dryandra armata, Gastrolobium polystachyum, Hakea auriculata, H. incrassata, H. aff. erinacea, Hibbertia hypericoides, Hypocalymma xanthopetalum, Melaleuca trichophylla, Petrophile chrysantha, Schoenus subflavus and Xanthorrhoea drummondii.

Current Status: WA listed as Critically Endangered.

Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community A1.2

The Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community A1.2 is an Ecological Community occurring within the Geraldton Sandplains IBRA Bioregion that has been identified as Endangered at State level, being endorsed in 2001. The Floristic Community has only been identified on one 31 hectare area within Lesueur National Park and is currently at threat from altered fire regimes, dieback (Phytophthora sp.), plant and animal pests, and mining.

The Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community A1.2 is described in Interim Recovery Plan No. 106 (pg 3) as being: Species-rich heath with emergent Hakea obliqua on sand with faithful species of Hakea obliqua and Beaufortia aff. elegans and constant species of Dasypogon bromeliifolius and Stirlingia latifolia over well-drained grey sand over pale yellow sand on lateritic uplands. Associated species include Allocasuarina humilis, Calothamnus sanguineous, Hibbertia hypericoides, Hypocalymma xanthopetalum and Schoenus subflavus.

Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain: a nationally protected ecological community

The Banksia Woodlands ecological community only occurs on or adjacent to the Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia, which stretches to the north and south of Perth. The broader region—Southwest Australia—is recognised as one of only two global biodiversity hotspots in Australia.

The ecological community provides habitat for many native plants and animals that rely on Banksia Woodlands for their homes and food. Remaining patches of the ecological community provide important wildlife corridors and refuges in a mostly fragmented landscape.

The ecological community was listed as endangered under Australia’s national environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), on 16 September.

For more information about this ecological community visit the Department of Environment website.

*Claypans with mid dense shrublands of Melaleuca lateritia over herbs

Classified as Claypans of the Swan Coastal Plain under EPBC Act.

Category (WA) – Priority 1

For more information see the Clay pans of the Swan Coastal Plain – Interim Recovery Plan No. 354 (DPaW2015).

Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community M2 (Melaleuca preissiana woodland)

Woodland dominated by Melaleuca preissiana along sandy drainage lines, with faithful species of Anigozanthos pulcherrimus and constant species of Chamaescilla corymbosa, Petrophile brevifolia and Xanthorrhoea reflexa.

Category (WA) – Priority 1

For more information visit the DPaW website.

Lesueur-Coomallo Floristic Community DFGH

Mixed species-rich heath on lateritic gravel with Hakea erinacea, Melaleuca platycalyx and Petrophile seminuda: a fine scale mixture of four floristically-defined communities occurring on lateritic slopes.

Category (WA) – Priority 1

For more information visit the DPaW website.

*Claypans with mid dense shrublands of Melaleuca lateritia over herbs

Classified as Claypans of the Swan Coastal Plain under EPBC Act.

Category (WA) – Priority 1

For more information see the Clay pans of the Swan Coastal Plain – Interim Recovery Plan No. 354 (DPaW2015).

Wedge Island Nature Reserve

The Wedge Island Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The island is also part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. Wedge Island differs from the other islands in that it is periodically joined to the mainland by a wide sandbar. This has historically enable access and led to more widespread erosion and weed invasion than is evident on the other islands.

Primary and Secondary Coastal Dunes

Primary dunes (from low water mark) and secondary dunes. Valued for recreational, aesthetic and cultural reasons, along with the services provided for storm protection  and habitat.

Seagrass Meadows

Seagrasses are flowering plants that complete their life cycle submerged in seawater. Western Australia has the world’s highest diversity of seagrasses, with 27 species occurring in shallow waters off the coast. Seagrasses form a vital component of marine ecosystems through their services as primary biomass producers, sources of habitat (including breeding and nursery areas) and dissolved oxygen, sediment traps, and nutrient cycling. Seagrass distribution is determined by a combination of shelter, sediment, turbidity, nutrient, temperature, current and tidal influences.

Extensive seagrass meadows occur in protected near-shore areas of the NAR, where clear water, low nutrients and sandy sea floors prevail, and are dominated by the long strap-like Ribbonweed or Strapweed (Posidonia spp) and the thin-stemmed Wireweed (Amphibolis spp).

Seagrass habitats are fragile and susceptible to damage and can take many years to recover from disturbance, such as physical damage/removal and shading due to algal blooms (as a result of increased nutrients), and sedimentation (due to dredging activities and erosion in catchment areas).

More information on seagrasses in Western Australia can be found in the following publications: Flowers of the Ocean: WA’s Expansive Seagrass Meadows; The Wonders of Weed Information Sheet; Fisheries Fact Sheet: Seagrasses; Establishing Reference and Monitoring Sites to Assess a Key Indicator of Ecosystem Health (Seagrass Health) on the central west Coast of Western Australia (see references).

Sandland Island Nature Reserve

The Sandland Island Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The island is part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group and provide breeding habitat for seabirds in the region.

Ronsard Rocks Nature Reserve

The Ronsard Rocks Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. The islands provide breeding habitat for seabirds.

Outer Rocks Nature Reserve

The Outer Rocks Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. Both North and South Outer Rocks provide breeding habitat for seabirds in the region.

Jurien Bay Marine Park

The Jurien Bay Marine Park was declared in 2003, covers ~111 180 ha and extends for around 5.5 km offshore between Wedge and Green Head. The park contains an extensive limestone reef system, forming shallow lagoons and seagrass meadows, and incorporates many island nature reserves that provide habitat for rare and endangered animals, including the Vulnerable Jurien Bay Skink Liopholis pulchra longicauda and the Endangered Dibbler Parantechinus apicalis. The park also contains breeding sites for Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinerea and numerous seabirds.

Fisherman Islands Nature Reserve

The Fisherman Islands Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. North Fisherman Island is one of the few breeding sites for Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinerea in Western Australia.

Essex Rocks Nature Reserve

The Essex Rocks Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The islands are all part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. Middle and North Essex Rock are used by Vulnerable Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinerea as haul out and foraging areas.

Escape Island Nature Reserve

The Escape Island Nature Reserve forms part of the ~111 180 ha Jurien Bay Marine Park which was declared in 2003. The 27 ha island is part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. It supports a population of the Vulnerable Jurien Bay Skink Liopholis pulchra longicauda, Endangered Dibbler Parantechinus apicalis and relatively high plant diversity.

Jurien Groundwater Area

The Jurien Groundwater Area spans over 5,000 km2 of land and has a total groundwater availability of around 84 million m3/year. Groundwater usage is low, with 21 per cent of resources allocated. There are also significant amounts of groundwater available in the Parmelia/Leederville formations. The superficial formation contains important resources near the coast, although the quality and quantity of groundwater is variable (DoW, 2010).

For information on the allocation plan click here.

Nambung River

Hill River

Saline lakes of Coolimba – Jurien

Lake Thetis

Lake Thetis is one of few lakes where both submerged benthic microbial mats and developing microbial structures occur. The shallow pools on the south western shore provide the perfect environment for the growth of micro-organisms, particularly cyanobacteria, which are the building blocks for stromatolites, the regions only example of ‘living fossils’. Stromatolites – layered rocks – are the oldest form of life on earth dating 3.5 billion years, although the Lake Thetis structures are relatively new, being about 2,000 years old. Stromatolites grow in Lake Thetis because of the extreme salinity and limited circulationof the water and the occurrence of calcium carbonate. Lake Thetis is a very important site in the region and a significant example of a specialised form of aquatic ecological community.

A symposium on Western Australia’s south-west microbialites during October 2012 developed a number of methods of addressing the major issues with conservation management of WA’s microbialites and microbial assemblages including increased sharing of knowledge and community ownership.