Shire of Perenjori
| Area | ~8,313 square kilometres, located ~360 km north of Perth. |
| Towns | Bunjil, Latham, Maya and Perenjori. |
| Average Temperature | Mean daily maximum temperature over 30 years 1990 – 2019 37.4°C (Jan) and 18.7°C (Jul). |
| Annual Rainfall | Average annual rainfall over 30 years 1990 – 2019 250 mm (BoM 2020). |
| ABS Profile | Perenjori ABS profile |
| Shire website | Shire of Perenjori |
Population
Around 615 people live in the Shire of Perenjori, 98% of whom live in the small towns dotted throughout the Shire (ABS 2016). The largest town is Perenjori, with a population of 276.
The population in the Shire of Perenjori decreased by 34% between the last census in 2011 and the most recent census in 2016, and is projected to decrease by a further 28% by 2031 (DPLH 2016).
Approximately 12% of residents of the Shire of Perenjori were born overseas and approximately 6% 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 Perenjori depends primarily on broad acre agriculture and the services that support farming in the area. Local farming includes the production of cereal crops (wheat, canola, lupins, oats) and livestock (primarily sheep for wool). Mining at Karrara and Mt Gibson Extension Hill is an important part of the local economy (MWDC 2013), employing as many people as agriculture, and wildflower tourism is a small but growing area.
The main land uses in the Shire of Perenjori includes are agriculture, mining and nature conservation.
Nature Reserves
West Perenjori Nature Reserve
The West Perenjori Nature Reserve covers ~460 ha and is located south west of Perenjori. The reserve forms part of the Yamatji conservation reserve.
Weelhamby Lake Nature Reserve
The Weelhamby Lake Nature Reserve covers ~606 ha of inland salt lake habitat located north of Perenjori. The reserve forms part of the Yamatji conservation estate.
Maya Nature Reserve
The Maya Nature Reserve covers ~ 54 ha and is located near Latham. The reserve forms part of the Yamatji conservation estate.
Latham and East Latham Nature Reserve
The Latham Nature Reserve covers ~107 ha and the nearby East Latham Nature Reserve covers ~162 ha. Both reserves are located near Latham and both form part of the Yamatji conservation estate.
Charles Darwin Nature Reserve
The Charles Darwin Nature Reserve is a private reserve owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia with Badimaya Traditional Owners. The reserve was established in 2003 and covers ~68 600 ha. it provides habitat for 230 animals, including Vulnerable Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata and Endangered Shield-backed Trapdoor Spider Idiosoma nigrum, and over 680 plants, including 27 priority listed species.
Caron Nature Reserve
The Caron Nature Reserves covers ~392 ha and is located south of Perenjori. The reserve was initially established as a water reserve.
Bowgarder Nature Reserve
The Bowgarder Nature Reserve covers ~1 550 ha. The reserve is located near Perenjori and is part of the Yamatji conservation estate.
Geology
Underlying the Shire of Perenjori is the south west terrain of the Yilgarn Craton. The area comprises of biotite granite and gneiss rocks formed from igneous and metamorphic rocks. Underlying the northern and north eastern portions of the shire is the Youanmi terrain which also forms a part of the Yilgarn craton. These areas are comprised of rocks rich in magnesium and iron, layered sills of gabbro and dolerite and banded iron formations.
Soils are primarily deep sands and loamy earth. Saline soils, associated with a shallow water table, are associated with the narrow drainage lines and salt lakes systems of the shire. The landscape is characterised by undulating plains, sand dunes and broad ridges.
Environment
The shire is located within the Merredin Ancient Drainage Basin (AVW01) and Tallering (YAL02) IBRA sub-regions and is characterised by red sandy plains, open eucalypt and acacia woodland and proteaceous heath. The Karara & Lochada Important Bird Area is located in the shire and provides important habitat for Malleefowl Leipoa occellata. Priority 1 Minjar and Chulaar Hills Vegetation Complex and Blue Hills vegetation complex occur on banded ironstone formations in the area.
Groundwater Areas
Gascoyne Groundwater Area
The Gascoyne Groundwater Area extends north to Kalbarri and bounds the Arrowsmith Groundwater Area east to pastoral country. The largest groundwater aquifer occurs in the Yarragadee Formation, which has an estimated yield of 22.5 million m³/year. Groundwater from fractured rock aquifers in the eastern, inland part of the region is predominantly saline, with poor yields.
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.
Wetlands
Yarra Yarra Lake System
Yarra Yarra Lake is the terminal point for an extensive chain of salt lakes. The major lakes in the system are Monger’s Lake, Lake Goorly, Lake DeCourcy and Yarra Yarra Lake. The Yarra Yarra Lake System covers an area of 119km², is 25km long and 9km wide at its widest point. In wet years the lakes overflow along a broad drainage line, terminating in Yarra Yarra Lake.
Lake Moore
Lake Moore is a dry salt lake east of Perenjori. The site is one of the most sacred places for the Badimia people of the area, where ceremonies traditionally took place. Lake Moore is used regularly to this day, by Badimia families, for hunting, camping, collecting bush medicines and teaching the younger generation about country and culture.
Birdlife Western Australia
Birdlife Western Australia
Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association
Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association
Gunduwa
Gunduwa Contact: Jude Cusworth
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)
Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group
Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group Contact: Peter SymeThe Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group (YYCMG) is a community-based working group concerned with natural resource management in the Yarra Yarra region. YYCMG activities include rehabilitation of drainage lines, revegetation, saltland pasture, and sustainable farming practices.