Living in Dorset

Dorset Council provides community services based on the principles of quality, equity, value and responsiveness.

Visiting Dorset

Dorset has a unique blend of wilderness, wildlife, stunning scenery, mining heritage, secluded beaches and world class golf courses.

Contact us

  • Phone (03) 6352 6500
  • Fax (03) 6352 6509
  •  After Hours: 1300 858 824

Business community in Dorset

Dorset Council is focused on providing support to potential investors to facilitate sustainable developments large and small.

Contact us

  • Phone (03) 6352 6500
  • Fax (03) 6352 6509
  • After Hours 1300 858 824
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Our Natural Environment

Dorset is defined by a diverse array of terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, coastal and marine habitats, each of which contains important flora and fauna species and ecosystems. The economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the community is underpinned by the capacity of the natural environment to support our needs.

Facts and figures

  • Native vegetation covers approximately fifty-four percent of Dorset's land area.
  • Some of the important vegetation communities in Dorset include rainforests, wet eucalypt forests, button grass plains, alpine moorlands, swamp forests, coastal heathland and saltmarsh.
  • Eighteen percent of the municipality is in conservation covenants or other secure reserves.
  • Two internationally listed Ramsar wetlands and twelve nationally listed DIWA wetlands are found in the municipality.
  • Ninety-four nationally listed threatened species are found in the municipality including wedge-tailed eagles, Tasmanian devils, and the Scottsdale burrowing crayfish.
  • Dorset's coastal areas and offshore islands provide habitat for many migratory birds species listed under international agreements such as JAMBA and CAMBA.

Conservation Areas

Dorset has many areas where our community can enjoy the natural environment. Some examples of these include Mt William National Park, Waterhouse Conservation Area, Granite Point Conservation area, Mt Cameron Regional Reserve and Mt Stronach Regional Reserve.

Benefits of native gardens

  • Help to maintain biodiversity by providing a space for rare or endangered plants.
  • Provide food, shelter and nesting habitat for native animals. Many birds and insects attracted to your garden will act as a natural pest control and increase pollination leading to better production.
  • Reduce water and fertiliser use if you use plants from your area that are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions.
  • Prevent introduced garden plants from invading the natural environment and becoming invasive weeds.
  • Enjoy the beauty of Dorset's native flora.

Things to consider

  • What native plants are suitable for my local conditions?
  • Should I buy my plants from a nursery or propagate them?
  • Are the plants I'm buying of local provenance?
  • How can I design my native garden for fire protection?
  • How can I design my native garden for minimal water use?

More native plant information