This page includes information about the City’s plan for the conservation, restoration, and preservation of biodiversity.
The City of Stirling is committed to conserving, protecting, and enhancing our community’s natural spaces and biodiversity. The City is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the region and require careful management to ensure their survival. The City, together with the community, has a responsibility to support biodiversity in our natural and urban environments to create connected, healthy ecosystems. It is critical that we care for these areas to ensure their existence for future generations.
The City’s Parks and Environment team is dedicated to the planning, conservation, and management of the City’s biodiversity and natural spaces.

Local Biodiversity Strategy and management plans
The City manages its natural areas under the strategic guidance of its Local Biodiversity Strategy and site-specific management plans for significant bushlands and wetlands.
The strategy provides a set of strategic visions and governing principles for conservation in the City which includes:
- Preserving current and future areas for protection
- Policy recommendations for legislative protection
- Recommendations for managing and addressing key threatening processes
- Strengthening local biodiversity
- Involving the community through engagement and education.

Degradation and threats
Urban bushlands are increasingly under threat from a range of degrading processes. Understanding the reasons behind bushland degradation and the specific factors that lead to it is crucial for effective conservation and management.
Key threatening processes include:
These restoration projects are critical to ensuring the long-term survival of our native flora and fauna and their habitat.
- Brushfield Way drain restoration project
- Bushland protection fencing
- Bushland revegetation projects
- Lake Gwelup restoration
- Coastal revegetation projects
- Watermans Bay dune restoration project
- Signage upgrade
- Paths and beach access step upgrades
- Jackadder Lake wetland margin restoration
- Basalt Silver Topaz Bushland enhancement project.
Fencing and track upgrades
To date the Natural Areas team have upgraded fencing and access tracks in 40 bushland reserves across the city including Carine Regional Open Space, Dianella Regional Open Space, Richard Guelfi Reserve, Yokine Regional Open Space, Star Swamp, Lake Gwelup, Princess Wallington Reserve, Trigg Regional Open Space and Cottonwood Crescent Reserve.
Lake Gwelup restoration
A long-term project that will see the removal of invasive weeds such as Typha, and replaced with native Baumea sedges. The project will restore wildlife habitat and improve the aesthetics of the lake.
Natural Areas undertakes flora surveys every two years to monitor the progress of at risk species such as orchids. It is estimated that orchid populations have declined by 75% across the city due to people picking them.
The City's Natural Areas team undertake annual fauna surveys to track the progress of native wildlife, especially those species that are threatened, endangered or at risk due to human impacts.
Rusty Spider Orchid
Unlike most plants, orchids do not grow back once they are picked.
The Southern Brown Bandicoot or Quenda is a marsupial in decline and listed as Threatened - Priority 5 by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
They are found in four of the City’s bushland reserves as well some coastal dunes. Quendas are easily stressed and disturbances from people or their pets can death or females ejecting infants from their pouch.
Protecting Quenda's
The City asks your assistance by staying on tracks, avoid walking through the bush, keeping dogs on leash, and not allowing domestic cats to enter bushlands, wetlands or coastal dunes.
Careniup Wetlands Reserve, within the suburb of Gwelup, consists of a number of parcels of public open space that have been ceded to the City via the Special Control Area identified in the City’s Local Planning Scheme No.3.
With the majority of adjacent land developed and most of the public open space now ceded to the City, this Management Plan has been prepared to guide the future development and management of the reserve to ensure both the community’s future recreational needs are met and the site’s environmental and landscape qualities are preserved and enhanced.

Conservation and management programs and projects
Dedicated programs and projects assist in the conservation and management of the community’s natural spaces and biodiversity.
Current conservation projects include:
These restoration projects are critical to ensuring the long-term survival of our native flora and fauna and their habitat.
- Brushfield Way drain restoration project
- Bushland protection fencing
- Bushland revegetation projects
- Lake Gwelup restoration
- Coastal revegetation projects
- Watermans Bay dune restoration project
- Signage upgrade
- Paths and beach access step upgrades
- Jackadder Lake wetland margin restoration
- Basalt Silver Topaz Bushland enhancement project.
Fencing and track upgrades
To date the Natural Areas team have upgraded fencing and access tracks in 40 bushland reserves across the city including Carine Regional Open Space, Dianella Regional Open Space, Richard Guelfi Reserve, Yokine Regional Open Space, Star Swamp, Lake Gwelup, Princess Wallington Reserve, Trigg Regional Open Space and Cottonwood Crescent Reserve.
Lake Gwelup restoration
A long-term project that will see the removal of invasive weeds such as Typha, and replaced with native Baumea sedges. The project will restore wildlife habitat and improve the aesthetics of the lake.
Natural Areas undertakes flora surveys every two years to monitor the progress of at risk species such as orchids. It is estimated that orchid populations have declined by 75% across the city due to people picking them.
The City's Natural Areas team undertake annual fauna surveys to track the progress of native wildlife, especially those species that are threatened, endangered or at risk due to human impacts.
Rusty Spider Orchid
Unlike most plants, orchids do not grow back once they are picked.
The Southern Brown Bandicoot or Quenda is a marsupial in decline and listed as Threatened - Priority 5 by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
They are found in four of the City’s bushland reserves as well some coastal dunes. Quendas are easily stressed and disturbances from people or their pets can death or females ejecting infants from their pouch.
Protecting Quenda's
The City asks your assistance by staying on tracks, avoid walking through the bush, keeping dogs on leash, and not allowing domestic cats to enter bushlands, wetlands or coastal dunes.
Careniup Wetlands Reserve, within the suburb of Gwelup, consists of a number of parcels of public open space that have been ceded to the City via the Special Control Area identified in the City’s Local Planning Scheme No.3.
With the majority of adjacent land developed and most of the public open space now ceded to the City, this Management Plan has been prepared to guide the future development and management of the reserve to ensure both the community’s future recreational needs are met and the site’s environmental and landscape qualities are preserved and enhanced.

Working with community volunteers
Engaging with community volunteers is not only vital for environmental protection but also fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among residents. In the City of Stirling, several on-ground community volunteer groups act as custodians of local natural spaces, playing a crucial role in bushland conservation.
Joining a local volunteer group offers members of the community an opportunity to connect with nature, acquire new skills, and make a tangible positive impact on the environment.
Volunteering can also lead to new friendships and strengthen the community bond among residents.
Discover your local volunteer group below and get involved in preserving our precious natural spaces:
Surrounding suburbs Between Peasholm Beach and Watermans Bay
Email stirlingnaturalenvironmentcoastcare@hotmail.com
Website https://www.stirlingnaturalenvironmentcoastcare.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StirlingNaturalEnvironmentCoastcareINC/
Surrounding suburbs North Beach, Watermans Bay, Marmion
Email starswamp@hotmail.com
Website https://friendsofstarswamp.wixsite.com/friendsofstarswamp
Surrounding suburbs Trigg, Scarborough, Karrinyup
Email triggbushland@gmail.com
Website https://www.triggbushland.org.au/
Facebook www.facebook.com/TriggBushland
Surrounding suburbs Gwelup, Karrinyup
Email friendsoflakegwelup@gmail.com
Surrounding suburbs Inglewood, Mount Lawley, Menora
Email inglewood.triangle@gmail.com
Website https://www.bushlandperth.org.au/groups/friends-of-inglewood-triangle/
Surrounding suburbs Coolbinia, Yokine
Email coolbiniabushland@gmail.com
Website https://www.bushlandperth.org.au/groups/friends-of-coolbinia-bushland/
Surrounding suburbs Karrinyup
Surrounding suburbs Dianella
Surrounding suburbs Herdsman, Glendalough