Flora and Fauna

The Shire of Denmark sits in an area of high conservation value due to the amount of endemic species. Our Sustainability Officer and broader team work towards effective management and conservation of biodiversity values, including threatened and endemic flora and fauna found in the Shire's bushland, coastal and foreshore reserves.

What We Do

Posted 20 December 2024 Annual Christmas Closure: 24 December to 2 January

Shire Admin, Recreation Centre, Library and Depot to close doors at noon 24 December

Posted 20 December 2024 Appointment of Ranger, Fire Control Officer and Chief FCO

Public notice of two new appointments

Posted 20 December 2024 Denmark Direct Community Newsletter December 2024

Posted 20 December 2024 Substantial Congestion Expected at Ocean Beach and Prawn Rock

A message from the Denmark Shire President Kingsley Gibson

Posted 20 December 2024 Holiday Waste Collections and Tip Closures

Kerbside collections, plus info on Tip, Tip Shop and Containers for Change

Posted 16 December 2024 Massive Funding Announcement a Win for Berridge Park Revitalisation

$2,857,500 grant awarded by Lotterywest ensures $5m project will go ahead

Posted 16 December 2024 Prohibited Burning Period Commences Today 16 December

From 16 December to 15 March it is an offence to light an outdoor fire

Posted 12 December 2024 Springdale Shared Path Due to Get Underway Next Month

Local contractor engaged to deliver construction of new path, completed by April 2025

Posted 11 December 2024 Adoption of Waste Local Law 2024

Copy of the new local law can be viewed online or in person at the Shire Admin

Posted 10 December 2024 Ratepayers Rewarded for Paying Rates on Time

Seven lucky ratepayers rewarded with Denmark Dollars for paying rates by due date

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Flora Conservation

At the Shire of Denmark, we make sure all our major projects (such as recently completed projects like the WOW Trail Stage 2) are subject to flora surveys to ensure we do what we can to minimise vegetation and habitat disturbance. We also have a robust revegetation program to rehabilitate disturbed sites throughout our Shire.

Flora and Fire Ecology

Many native plants of our southern forests have evolved in the presence of fire for thousands of years and have developed adaptations which allow them to continue to exist in fire prone environments. Some plants (eg: Jarrah - Eucalyptus marginata) are able to reshoot from buds on their stems (epicormic buds) or roots (lignotubers), while others hold their seeds in tough woody pods that open in the heat and smoke of a fire. These seeds drop onto a rich ash bed which assists with seedling growth.

The vast majority of the Shire of Denmark is located in a bushfire prone area. More information about flora, fire and ecology, as well as other useful documents and links are available below.

Hazard Reduction Burning (also known as Prescribed Burning) is conducted in reserves managed by the Shire of Denmark and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, on the back of detailed flora and fauna surveys. Hazard Reduction Burns are not common on Shire-managed reserves, but they are a potential tool for us to use as part of our annual Bushfire Mitigation Program to keep our community safe.

Cultural Burning

The Shire is proud to be a part of a collaboration fostering relations between fire management practitioners, Bushfire Brigades, DFES, Noongar Elders, next generation Traditional Custodians and educational institutions working together towards incorporating Noongar traditional burning into contemporary fire management practices.

Snake Necked Turtle Project

Many of the Shire’s wetlands are home to populations of the SNT which are under threat from predators, vehicles and lack of suitable nesting habitat. The Shire has partnered with Murdoch University to participate in a citizen-science project where participants learn about turtles, the latest research,and contribute to critical citizen science using the TurtleSAT app. to help inform future management for snake-necked turtles. A survey was also conducted on one of our local river systems Little River where SNT have been previously sited, to identify whether populations still inhabit the river system.

Owl Friendly Campaign (SGAR)

In March 2021, the Shire of Denmark endorsed the Rodenticide Action Group’s Owl Friendly Denmark Region Campaign’s vision for the Denmark Region as ‘a safe haven for owls and other wildlife from rodenticide poisoning’. Council committed to eliminate second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAR) where possible within the Shire’s area of responsibility and influence, and support the Rodenticide Action Group’s community engagement activities to educate the community.

The Shire has facilitated a number of community education workshops in 2021 and 2024 in collaboration with the Denmark Environment Centre on raising awareness of the impacts of SGAR on raptors and many other birds and mammals. First generation anticoagulants such as warfarin and coumatetralyl have a higher rate of breakdown so do not persist in the food chain for as long as SGAR. As a result, first generation anticoagulant rodenticides are considered less of a risk to our native predators and pets who may prey upon affected rodents.

Protection of Native Animals

All Australian native animals (including kangaroos, magpies and black cockatoos) are protected under State and Commonwealth law.

No person is able to keep, injure or kill native wildlife without the relevant licence from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

At the Shire of Denmark, we make sure all our major projects are subject to fauna surveys to ensure we do what we can to minimise habitat disturbance. We also have a robust revegetation program to rehabilitate disturbed sites throughout our Shire.

Our work to look after the health of our reserves and waterways, as well as managing invasive species and illegal vegetation clearing goes hand in hand with the protection of animals native to our area.

Concerns and queries about injured wildlife should be directed to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) Frankland District Office in Walpole on (08) 9840 0400 or through the DBCA Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055.

Bird Sanctuary

In 2022, the creation of the Bird Sanctuary was endorsed by Council, protecting an area of Prawn Rock Channel in Wilson Inlet for nesting of rare migratory shore birds.

For more information about the Bird Sanctuary, please contact Denmark Bird Group.