Shire of Gingin
| Area | ~3,211 square kilometres, located ~85 km north of Perth. |
| Towns | Gingin, Guilderton, Lancelin, Ledge Point and Seabird |
| Average Temperature | Mean daily maximum temperature over 30 years 1990 – 2019 Coastal: 29.1°C (Jan) and 19.4°C (Jul); Inland: 33.1°C (Jan) and 18.3°C (Jul). |
| Annual Rainfall | Average annual rainfall over 30 years 1990 – 2019 Coastal: 544 mm; Inland: 514 mm (BoM 2020). |
| ABS Profile | Gingin ABS profile |
| Shire Website | Shire of Gingin |
Click features on the map for more information. View full page map
Around 5,310 people live in the Shire of Gingin (ABS 2016), the second largest population in the region. Of these, about 850 people live in the town of Gingin itself and around 1,180 people live in the coastal towns of Lancelin, Ledge Point, Guilderton and Seabird.
The population in the Shire of Gingin increased by 10.1% between the last census in 2011 and the most recent census in 2016, and is projected to increase by a further 16.4% by 2031 (DPLH 2016). The Shire of Gingin is one of the fastest growing local government areas in Western Australia, fueled largely by its proximity to Perth.
Approximately 24% of residents of the Shire of Gingin were born overseas and approximately 1.9% are of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Estimates of the resident populations as at 30 June are released annually for Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Australia by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The estimates are generally revised 12 months later and final estimates are available after the following census. Visit the ABS website for further details.
The economy of the Shire of Gingin depends primarily on agriculture, fisheries and related services, as well as the construction industry and hospitality sector. Local farming includes the production of broad acre cereal crops (wheat, canola, lupins, oats), irrigated horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables), and livestock (poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle). The fisheries sector is focused on a large, although now declining, western Rock Lobster industry. The coastal towns and diverse natural environments within the Shire are attractive and popular holiday destinations and tourism is an important part of the economy.
The main land uses in the Shire of Gingin are agriculture, horticulture, residential, recreation and nature conservation.
Nature Reserves
Yurine Swamp Nature Reserve
The Yurine Swamp Nature Reserve covers ~40 ha and is located at Beermullah.
Yeal Nature Reserve
The Yeal Nature Reserve covers 15 458 ha and is located south west of Gingin.
Timaru Nature Reserve
The Timaru Nature Reserve covers ~104 ha and is located south of Gingin.
Nullilla Nature Reserve
The Nullilla Nature Reserve covers ~6 ha and is located south of Gingin.
Nilgen Nature Reserve
The Nilgen Nature Reserve covers ~7 530 ha and located on the outskirts of Lancelin. This coastal reserve includes a white sandy beach and extensive sand dunes backing onto wildflower heathland. Nilgen Nature Reserve provides habitat for a number of birds, reptile and mammals, including the tiny native marsupial Honey Possum Tarsipes rostratus.
Nabaroo Nature Reserve
The Nabaroo Nature Reserve covers ~11 ha and is located along the Karakin Brook near Cowalla.
Moore River National Park and associated Nature Reserves
The Moore River National Park covers ~23 578 ha and the adjacent Moore River Nature Reserve and Sand Spring Well Nature Reserve cover a further ~ 6 500 ha and ~27 ha respectively. All three reserves are located along the path of the Moore River and consist largely of Banksia heathland.
Gnangara-Moore River State Forest
The Gnangara-Moore River State Forest covers ~55 874 ha including some pine plantation and extensive area of native vegetation south of Gingin. Not all of the State Forest falls with the Northern Agricultural Region.
Gingin Stock Route Nature Reserve
The Gingin Stock Route Nature Reserve covers ~68 ha of Tuart Eucalyptus gomphocephala forest on the outskirts of Woodridge.
Breera Road Nature Reserve
The Breera Road Nature Reserve covers ~148 ha and is located south of Gingin.
Bootine Nature Reserve
The Bootine Nature Reserve covers ~97 ha and contains the largest known remnant of the endangered Threatened Ecological Community known as Shrublands and woodlands on Muchea Limestone of the Swan Coastal Plain.
Boonanarring Nature Reserve
The Boonanarring Nature Reserve was gazetted in 1991 and covers ~12 500 ha. The reserve is unique, with an ecotone of 10 vegetation types from the Swan region not found together on any other conservation reserves. Boonanarring is home to over 570 plant species, 13% of which are of special interest, many bird species and at least three significant small mammal species (Moore et al 2016).
Bashford Nature Reserve
The Bashford Nature Reserve is a small reserve covering ~140 hectares near Nilgen.
Bartletts Well Nature Reserve
The Bartletts Well Nature Reserve covers ~160 ha and is located east of Moore River National Park.
Bambanup Nature Reserve
The Bambanup Nature Reserve covers ~140 hectares near Bambun Lake, which contains water year round. The lake was a popular picnic spot in the 1900s.
The Shire of Gingin stretches from the coastline across the flat sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain in the west to the hinterland and foothills of the Darling Scarp to the east. The Shire embraces the lower reaches of the Moore River, together with a system of fresh water lakes and streams and the watercourse of the Gingin Brook and its tributaries.
The coastline of the Shire of Gingin is dominated by the Kockatea formation. It was formed in the Triassic period and consists of shale, minor siltstone, sandstone with deposits of calcareous and sandstone. Beekeepers Nature Reserve overlies the Lesueur Sandstone formation, which comprises very fine to very coarse quartz sandstone, with subordinate granule conglomerate and minor siltstone. Abutting the Lesueur Sandstone formation to the east is the Eneabba formation, which is inter-bedded with red-bed sandstone and siltstone. East of the Eneabba formation are a number of complex formations formed during the Jurassic period.
Please go to the below link for more information on soil and geology in the region go to the Geology and Soils page and check out the Geology Map and Soils Map.
Priority Fauna Species
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.
IBRA Regions
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).
Northern Jarrah Forest subregion (Jarrah Forest 1)
The Northern Jarrah Forrest is located in the southern LGAs. This subregion is characterised by Jarrah- Marri Forest over lateritic gravel. Woodlands of Wandoo – Marri forest over clayey soils in the east. In areas of Mesozoic sediment exists Jarrah forests occurring with a variety of other flora species (Williams and Mitchell, 2001).
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).
Threatened Ecological Communities
Shrublands and Woodlands on Muchea Limestone
This Endangered community is located within the Shires of Gingin and Chittering, as is described on page 3 of Interim Recovery Report No. 57 as occurring on the heavy soils of the eastern side of the Swan Coastal Plain, with the following native species being common – Casuarina obesa, Eucalyptus decipiens, Eucalyptus foecunda, Melaleuca huegelii, Alyogyne huegelii var. huegelii, Grevillea curviloba ssp. incurva, Grevillea curviloba ssp. curviloba, Grevillea evanescens, Melaleuca acerosa and Thysanotus arenarius – reflecting the unusual mixture of limestone, clay and sandy soils.
The main processes threatening the Muchea Limestone community are clearing (97% of vegetation in the area has been subject to clearing), and mining.
Perth to Gingin Ironstone Association
Threatened Ecological Community – Shrublands and Woodlands on Perth to Gingin Ironstone of the Swan Coastal Plain.
Description from the DoE Interim recovery plan no. 197 (pg 3):
Plant community located on seasonally inundated ironstone and heavy clay soils. The community occurs on the eastern side of the Swan Coastal Plain. Typical and common native species are the shrubs Melaleuca viminea, Dryandra sessilis, Acacia saligna, Grevillea curviloba subsp. incurva, Kunzea aff. recurva, Jacksonia furcellata and the herbs Rhodanthe manglesii, Tribonanthes australis and Isotropis cuneifolia subsp. glabra. The following exotic species are also currently common: Romulea rosea, Briza maxima, Trifolium dubium, Spergula arvensis and Hesperantha falcata.
The Declared Rare Flora Grevillea curviloba var. incurva occurs in the community. Five priority listed taxa also occur in the community, as follows: Isotropis cuneifolia subsp. glabra (Priority 2), Grevillea evanescens (P1), Haloragis tenuifolia (P3), Myriophyllum echinatum (P3) and Stylidium longitubum (P3).
Current Status: Listed as Critically Endangered in WA, Endangered under the EPBC Act.
Melaleuca huegelii – Melaleuca systena shrublands of limestone ridges (SCP 26a)
The Melaleuca huegelii – Melaleuca systena shrublands of limestone ridhes (Swan Coastal Plain Community type 26a) is listed as an Endangered Community that occurs only on shallow soils over limestone within the Shires of Wanneroo, Waroona and Gingin (with some occurrences within Yanchep National Park).
Page 3 of Interim Recovery Plan No. 193 describes the community as comprising of species rich thickets, heaths or scrubs dominated by Melaleuca huegelii, M. systena (previously M. acerosa), Dryandra sessilis over Grevillea preissii, Acacia lasiocarpa and Spyridium globulosum, occurring on skeletal
soil on ridge slopes and ridge tops (community 26a as described by Gibson et al. 1994).The most significant threat to the Community is clearing for mining and urban expansion, along with an increase in the frequency of fires.
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.
Banksia attenuata woodland over species rich dense shrublands (SPC 20a)
The Banksia attenuata woodland over species rich dense shrublands (SPC 20a) is a State listed Floristic Community that is a subgroup of the ‘type 20 woodlands’. SPC 20a is found on sandy soils and is reported to be the richest group of any of the Banksia communities recorded (with an average species richness of 67.4 species per site), low weed frequency, a distinctive diverse shrub layer, and the occurrence of Mesomelaena pseudostygia, Alexgeorgea nitens, Daviesia nudiflora, Synaphea spinulosa, Hibbertia racemosa and Stylidium calcaratum (DEC, 2012).
*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).
Priority Ecological Communities
*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).
Priority Ecological Communities
*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).
Priority coastal areas within the Shire of Gingin include the Ledge Point Foreshore, the Guilderton to Seabird dues and coastal vegetation.
Priority marine areas within the Shire of Gingin include the Wedge Island Area, Turquoise Coast Islands Nature Reserve and Jurien Bay Marine Park.
Coastal Assets
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.
Marine Assets
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).
Lancelin And Edwards Islands Nature Reserve
The Lancelin and Edwards Islands Nature Reserve are located at the southern end of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group. Lancelin Island has a high diversity of plants, supporting over 50 plant species, and is home to the endemic and threatened Lancelin Island Skink Ctenotus lancelini. The western side of Lancelin Island is protected in the Lancelin Island Lagoon Fish Habitat Protection Area.
Groundwater Areas
Gnangara Groundwater Area
Gnangara Groundwater System plan area is bounded by the Moore River and Gingin Brook River to the north and the Swan River in the south. The Groundwater Area spans over an area of 2,200 square kilometres. Groundwater replenishment of the Gnangara Area is dependent upon rainfall. The Gnangara groundwater systems is made up of four types of aquifers including the Superficial Aquifer, Mirrabooka Aquifer, Leederville Aquifer and Yarragadee North Aquifer. A study on the current condition of these aquifers indicates that there has been substantial decline in groundwater levels observed between 1998 to 2006 in the coastal areas including Guilderton. The decline in groundwater levels is due to a decline in rainfall, increase uptake of groundwater and the Gnangara Pine plantation (DoW, 2014)
Visit Gnangara Groundwater Systems for more information.
Gingin Groundwater Area
The Gingin Groundwater Area spans over 6,000 km2 of land and has a total groundwater availability of around 207 million m3/year. Usage in the area is high, with 72 per cent of resources allocated (NACC, 2005). Groundwater is generally fresh except in most aquifers along the Darling Scarp in the east, and in the Yarragadee aquifer in the coastal area south of Lancelin. The aquifers containing the largest volumes of accessible groundwater are found within the Superficial, Leederville, Leederville-Parmelia and Yarragadee formations and it is noted that the Leederville and Parmelia formations are currently substantially over allocated (DoW, 2013).
For information on the allocation plan click here.
Rivers
Moore River
Drainage Basin Length (km) Catchment Area (km2) Average Stream Salinity (mg/L) Key Characteristics Moore-Hill 288 13,450 3000-35000 The Moore River’s eastern reaches (Moore River East) which originates near Dalwallinu, and northern reaches (Moore River North) commences east of Coorow. The major tributaries are the Coonderoo River and Gingin Brook. The Moore River enters the ocean at Guilderton and the estuary is only open to the ocean for a few weeks each year. Gingin Brook
Drainage Basin Length (km) Catchment Area (km2) Average Stream Salinity (mg/L) Key Characteristics Moore-Hill 46 1,370 < 1000 Gingin Brook is the only remaining freshwater creek passing over the Swan Coastal Plain. It has almost permanent flow since it is fed by springs as well as general groundwater. For information on the allocation plan click here.
Wetlands
Lancelin Defence Training Area
This is part of a regionally significant group, the Bassendean group, and is recognised for its conservational values. Due to its proximity to surrounding nature reserves and national parks and the large area of freshwater wetlands on the site, it is likely to support a relatively high diversity of wetland biota.
Chandala Swamp
This wetland supports forty-two species of waterbirds and ranks in the top 4% of wetlands for number of species
Birdlife Western Australia
Birdlife Western Australia
Friends of Lancelin Coast Inc.
Friends of Lancelin Coast Inc. Contact: John $ Heather Hatch
Friends of Moore River Estuary
Friends of Moore River EstuaryThe Friends of Moore River Estuary Inc (FOMRE) is an incorporated body that focuses on the protection of the Moore River Estuary natural landscapes and environment and the promotion of responsible development.
Guilderton Community Association
Guilderton Community Association
The Guilderton Community Association is made up of residents and regular visitors to Guilderton who are interested in maintaining and sustainably improving the town now and for the future. The main aims of the association are to:
- promote the interests of the Guilderton community;
- assist in the improvement of the town in a manner which protects the natural environment of the Guilderton/Moore River area;
- conserve the natural environment of the Guilderton/Moore River area; and
- liaise with the Gingin Shire Council on behalf of the Guilderton community.
Sub-groups of the Association are responsible for providing many services within the town, such as the Visitor’s Centre, the Library and the Arts Group which is responsible for much of the public art in the town.
For people interested in joining the Guilderton Community Association, membership is open for any person over the age of 18 who is:
- a permanent resident of Guilderton;
- an occasional resident of Guilderton;
- a ratepayer at Guilderton; or
- supports the objects of the Association.
For those interested in joining the Community Association or simply after more information, please contact us at [email protected].
Ledge Point Coastcare Group
Ledge Point Coastcare Group Contact: Jan RichardsNotes
Ledge Point Coastcare Group focuses on coastal rehabilitation (weeding, native plant propagation workshops) and marine debris removal. Group volunteers participate in Cleanup Australia and the WA Beach Cleanup annually, and weeding activities year-round. Please contact Jan Richards for litter bags if required.
(Adapted from: Do Something Near You Website)
Lower Moore River Working Group
Lower Moore River Working GroupThe Lower Moore River Working Group (LMRWG) is a non-political group that focuses on the Lower Moore River and its environment. The Group actively manages weed infestation, revegetation, walking trails, boardwalks, fishing platforms, and erosion due to boat traffic and livestock. The group works with landholders to revegetate, fence, and direct stock to avoid bank degradation. Additionally the group is involved with funding for grants to complete water sampling and studies of the river system and its health.
(Adapted from: LMRWG Website)
P.O. Box 1003 Guilderton WA 6041 Australia
Moore Catchment Council
Moore Catchment CouncilMoore Catchment Council is a non-for profit, community body elected to represent the community’s interest in Natural Resource Management issues. The sub-region includes Shires in the Northern Agricultural Region that are directly associated with the Moore River catchment and drainage system – an area covering approximately 14 000 square kilometers, from Perenjori in the north east to Gingin in the south, where the River meets the Indian Ocean at Guilderton.
The philosophy of the Moore Catchment Council is to protect and continue to enhance the natural resources of the area for future generations. The role of the Council is to promote integrated catchment management and co-ordinate efforts to ensure effective on-ground action, along with sourcing funding to implement community prioritised strategies.
(Adapted from: Moore Catchment Council website)
P.O. Box 337 Moora WA 6510 Australia
1 Padbury Street Moora WA 6510 Australia
![N Gay - Conversation on [email protected] Moore River, Guilderton](https://www.narvis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/N-Gay-Conversation-on-Conservation--Moore-River-Guilderton.jpg){kind=link}
