The Goldfields-Esperance is located in the south-eastern corner of Western Australia and is the largest region in the state with a land area of 950,449 square kilometres. The region is more than three times the size of the state of Victoria and over a third of Western Australia's total land mass. It is bounded by the Pilbara region to the north, the Mid-West and Wheatbelt region to the west, the Great Southern region to the south-west, the Southern Ocean to the south and the WA border to the east.

The region has a long, rich association with gold mining, being the premier producer for the state. Nickel also features with strong production and healthy reserves. Agriculture and gold-related tourism are also strong contributors to the region's economy, as well as fishing and aquaculture along the coastlines of Esperance and Ravensthorpe.

The Goldfields-Esperance is located in the south-eastern corner of Western Australia and is the largest region in the state with a land area of 950,449 square kilometres. The region is more than three times the size of the state of Victoria and over a third of Western Australia's total land mass. It is bounded by the Pilbara region to the north, the Mid-West and Wheatbelt region to the west, the Great Southern region to the south-west, the Southern Ocean to the south and the WA border to the east.

The region has a long, rich association with gold mining, being the premier producer for the state. Nickel also features with strong production and healthy reserves. Agriculture and gold-related tourism are also strong contributors to the region's economy, as well as fishing and aquaculture along the coastlines of Esperance and Ravensthorpe.

The Goldfields-Esperance is located in the south-eastern corner of Western Australia and is the largest region in the state with a land area of 950,449 square kilometres. The region is more than three times the size of the state of Victoria and over a third of Western Australia's total land mass. It is bounded by the Pilbara region to the north, the Mid-West and Wheatbelt region to the west, the Great Southern region to the south-west, the Southern Ocean to the south and the WA border to the east.

The region has a long, rich association with gold mining, being the premier producer for the state. Nickel also features with strong production and healthy reserves. Agriculture and gold-related tourism are also strong contributors to the region's economy, as well as fishing and aquaculture along the coastlines of Esperance and Ravensthorpe.

The Goldfields-Esperance is located in the south-eastern corner of Western Australia and is the largest region in the state with a land area of 950,449 square kilometres. The region is more than three times the size of the state of Victoria and over a third of Western Australia's total land mass. It is bounded by the Pilbara region to the north, the Mid-West and Wheatbelt region to the west, the Great Southern region to the south-west, the Southern Ocean to the south and the WA border to the east.

The region has a long, rich association with gold mining, being the premier producer for the state. Nickel also features with strong production and healthy reserves. Agriculture and gold-related tourism are also strong contributors to the region's economy, as well as fishing and aquaculture along the coastlines of Esperance and Ravensthorpe.

The Meru Waste Disposal Facility (MWDF) in Geraldton is the only Class III landfill north of Perth and services a number of Mid West local governments. The City of Greater Geraldton's proposed Community Reuse and Recycling Centre also supports Geraldton and parts of the wider region. Significant further investment in facilities such as the MWDF is required to meet State recycling targets.

A priority for the region must be to optimise the use of regional waste as a resource, with a number of innovative solutions available. Achieving economies of scale remains a significant challenge for the region in regard to management of waste.

The Mid West region has abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, wave, geothermal and biomass. A number of renewable energy projects operate in the region and several more are in planning. The region’s renewable energy potential is constrained until the 330kV line (stage 2) is developed, enabling new projects to feed power into the SWIS.

Storage and the commercial realities of renewable energy in comparison to conventional sources also constrains further development of the local industry.

The Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) works in partnership with universities across Australia to support tertiary education delivery that meets Mid West student and industry needs. GUC's community-based model, the first of its kind in Australia, has drawn attention from regional communities throughout Australia with some now replicating the model.

The Durack Institute of Technology (Durack) offers more than 250 qualifications from Certificate 1 to Advanced Diploma level and was recently allocated RfR funding to develop a Centre for Training in the Resources Sector at the proposed Geraldton airport technology park, and a Health Sciences and Community Services facility and Aboriginal Learning Centre at the Fitzgerald Street campus in Geraldton.

The significant radio quietness of the Murchison area was a key to Australia attracting part of the $2 billion (Euro) international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project (hosted jointly with South Africa).

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) has a presence in the Mid West through the $152 million Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). The MRO will be a base for part of the SKA (the largest radio astronomy project ever developed) and a pre-eminent site for radio astronomy research and development.

CSIRO also operates the MRO Support Facility (MSF) in Geraldton.

The MSF provides support for CSIRO’s radio astronomy projects at the MRO. The MSF has access to super computer facilities at the Pawsey High Performance Computing Centre in Perth.

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is also located at the MRO. Led by Curtin University, the MWA is an international collaboration between institutions in the US, Australia, New Zealand and India.

Both the existing ASKAP and MWA projects will be expanded from Australia's component of the SKA (stage 1).

The WA Space Centre near Mingenew was Australia’s first satellite park. The facility is owned and operated by Space Australia, a subsidiary of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC).

There is so much to discover in the diverse Mid West region. A wealth of resources and natural beauty takes you on a journey through a range of industries. Here are a few examples:
• Closer to the coast, you will find the City of Greater Geraldton, Dongara, Kalbarri and the newly named national park, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
• The broad-acre farming land of the North Midlands awakens in spring with vibrant cascades of wildflowers across the breakaway country. These host one of the biggest open gardens in the world!
• The pristine coastline of the Batavia Coast and its rich coastal bounty includes the Western Rock Lobster of the Indian Ocean. A treasure of marine stories opens, full of courage and mutiny, to thrill all who dare discover them. A diverse culture of people and activities guarantees enjoyment to all who visit this region.

The Gascoyne region stretches across some 600km of pristine, postcard-perfect coastline that borders the Indian Ocean. This includes:
• The breathtaking, World Heritage area of Shark Bay. It is well known for its pearling history, sensational shell beaches, stromatolites and the dolphins at Monkey Mia.
• The Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park showcases the world’s largest fringing reef bursting with marine life including the breathtaking whale sharks.
• The rich ochre reds of the desert country. The vast outback of the Upper Gascoyne leads to Mt Augustus, the largest monolith in the world, and the awe-inspiring Kennedy Ranges which are part of the Kennedy Range National Park.
• Carnarvon is a sub-tropical coastal town that sits on the banks of the powerful Gascoyne River. This fresh water river system enables the successful growth of a diverse agriculture industry, recognised as the ‘food bowl’ of Western Australia and is a regional hub for many outlining pastoralists. Carnarvon gained world recognition for playing a part as integral support with its Tracking Station, ensuring man landed successfully on the moon. Now a space museum is a major attraction in town.

The Mid West is one of the largest agricultural regions in WA. The region’s mainstay broad acre crops are wheat, canola and lupins. Cattle and sheep are the region’s dominant livestock, with poultry, pigs and goats also produced.

It is also host to the State's largest fishing sector with a dominant rock lobster industry, and an emerging aquaculture sector, including finfish and oysters. The region produces approximately one- third of Western Australia’s fishery.

Pearl aquaculture is well established in the Abrolhos Islands. Other aquaculture is developing in the region with several trials already undertaken or planned. Species trialled include yellow tail kingfish (YTK), snapper, mulloway, seahorse, octopus and ornamental fish at various scales.

The Gascoyne is known as a key food bowl. The Carnarvon Horticulture District is considered one of the best-managed irrigation districts in Australia and contributes 99.5 per cent of the total production value of Western Australian bananas.

The Mid West has a diverse range of minerals and is also highly prospective for wind, wave, geothermal and biomass energy production and is increasingly recognised as having a role as a future energy hub including renewable hydrogen.

One of Australia's most diverse mining provinces that includes talc, gold, lead, tin, tantalum, zinc, heavy mineral sands, iron ore, copper, clays, pigments, nickel, vanadium, titanium, gypsum, chromite, platinoids, limestone, limesands and manganese ore.
Australia's first lead mine at Galena (Geraldine Lead Mine, 1849).

Home to the first iron ore mine in WA (Koolanooka, 1966).

Mount Magnet is the longest surviving gold mining settlement in WA.

The oldest and most productive talc mine in the southern hemisphere (second most productive in the world) is located in Three Springs.

Wilgie Mia near Cue is the oldest known mining operation in the world with excavations of ochre occurring for at least 40,000 years.

The world’s oldest rocks are located in the Mid West (in the Murchison subregion).

The Mid West hosts a rich diversity of industry and opportunity for investors. Join in this growing economy that comprises mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture industries and a wide array of mineral wealth comprising iron ore, mineral sands, talc, energy deposits, natural gas, silver, nickel and copper.

The Gascoyne showcases a diverse economy with tourism playing the key role in wealth creation in conjunction with fishing, horticultural, mining and pastoralism. The strong growth of the tourism sector, good water resources and management of natural environment, encourages economic and social development in this region.

The Mid West hosts a rich diversity of industry and opportunity for investors. Join in this growing economy that comprises mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture industries and a wide array of mineral wealth comprising iron ore, mineral sands, talc, energy deposits, natural gas, silver, nickel and copper.

The Gascoyne showcases a diverse economy with tourism playing the key role in wealth creation in conjunction with fishing, horticultural, mining and pastoralism. The strong growth of the tourism sector, good water resources and management of natural environment, encourages economic and social development in this region.

The Mid West hosts a rich diversity of industry and opportunity for investors. Join in this growing economy that comprises mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture industries and a wide array of mineral wealth comprising iron ore, mineral sands, talc, energy deposits, natural gas, silver, nickel and copper.

The Gascoyne showcases a diverse economy with tourism playing the key role in wealth creation in conjunction with fishing, horticultural, mining and pastoralism. The strong growth of the tourism sector, good water resources and management of natural environment, encourages economic and social development in this region.

The Mid West hosts a rich diversity of industry and opportunity for investors. Join in this growing economy that comprises mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture industries and a wide array of mineral wealth comprising iron ore, mineral sands, talc, energy deposits, natural gas, silver, nickel and copper.

The Gascoyne showcases a diverse economy with tourism playing the key role in wealth creation in conjunction with fishing, horticultural, mining and pastoralism. The strong growth of the tourism sector, good water resources and management of natural environment, encourages economic and social development in this region.

High-performing waste and recycling systems which see materials recovered, reused and recycled can and do reduce this impact. The creation of a circular economy has the potential to harness the economic value of these materials that would otherwise be lost.

A circular economy means transitioning from the current take-make-use and dispose system to a material efficiency approach which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value for as long as possible.

Western Australians are consciously reusing, reprocessing, recycling and avoiding waste at an increasing rate. We are generating less waste and recycling more. However, to protect our unique environment from the impacts of waste and litter, and to maximise the benefits of good waste management, more work needs to be done.

Plantation Energy Australia (PEA) is a densified biomass fuel pellet manufacturing company in Albany. The pellets are made from non-commercial timber and harvest residues from sustainably managed plantations. PEA expect to export up to 250 000 tonnes of pellets per year through the port.

Composting or having a worm farm at home is an inexpensive and natural way to reduce your waste and benefit your garden! You can recycle your vegetable scraps, fallen leaves, lawn clippings and other kitchen and garden waste into a fantastic organic material to improve your garden soil.

The coastal part of the Great Southern region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with typically warm summers and cool, wet winters. Rainfall decreases and temperature increases moving from the coast to inland areas. The north and east of the region is considered to be semi-arid with hot and dry conditions. Higher rainfall areas tend to support a wider range and greater diversity of industry activities.

The moderate coastal climate and clean image associated with the Great Southern has enabled the Region to become a prime centre for production of high value fruits, nuts and vegetables including strawberries, potatoes, and asparagus. Being free from major diseases and pests, the region is an ideal location for fruit and vegetable production.

Productive land and generally reliable growing conditions support premium food producers in the region. Wagyu beef, truffles, seafood, dairy products, organic foods, pantry products and more attract attention for their quality and provenance.

The woodchip industry continues to be one of the primary exporters in the region. The dominant species planted are Tasmanian blue gums and pines.

The Great Southern is the State’s second largest wine grape producing region, with many wines receiving international recognition. In 2021, the top five varieties in the Great Southern were Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon.

The commercial fishing industry on the south coast is an important contributor to the socioeconomic health of the region. There is a wide diversity of products including pilchards, salmon, crabs, herring, estuarine species, deep sea table fish, sharks, rock lobster and aquaculture species such as oysters and mussels

Great Southern aquaculture took a step change in 2017 with the opening of the Albany Shellfish Hatchery. The hatchery supplies shellfish spat to aquaculture operations around Western Australia’s coastline, and to operations elsewhere in Australia.

The tourism sector is a key component of the economy within the region. The coastline is rugged, exciting and accessible, with Misery Beach being named Australia’s best in 2022 by Tourism Australia.

Little Beach, Blossoms Beach, Greens Pool and Peaceful Bay are other Great Southern beaches recommended by the Australia’s South West Regional Tourism Organisation. The region also includes some of the oldest granite ranges in the world including the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges.

The Region includes part of the 1.5million hectare Biosphere Reserve of the Fitzgerald River National Park and is recognised as a place of environmental significance by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The Reserve ranks among the most important areas for plant biodiversity in the world and contains over 250 rare or geographically restricted plant and animal species, about many of which little is known. Of the 5,000 or so vascular plant species native to this area, 79% are endemic.

The Great Southern tourism experience has expanded in recent years with a four-star hotel in Albany - additional cellar doors and restaurants throughout the region, significant upgrades to regional trails, and the spectacular Bremer Bay Orca experience where the deep-sea Bremer Canyon Sub-Basin attracts Killer Whales and other unique marine life.

The Great Southern is the fifth most visited region in the State of WA, with around 740,000 overnight visitors each year. This includes 67,000 interstate visitors and 61,000 international visitors.

The Great Southern is Western Australia’s southernmost region, bordered by the Southern Ocean where the coast stretches for approximately 250 kilometres. Spanning over 39,007 square kilometres, the region represents 1.5% of Western Australia’s total land mass and extends inland for 200 kilometres.

Deemed as one of the most liveable regions in WA, the Great Southern is renowned for its unspoilt natural environment including white sand beaches, tall timber forests, wildflowers and a spectacular rugged coastline complete with whales, dolphins and other marine life, the region has an inspiring and diverse tourism offering.

The Great Southern region is known for its primary production, natural and harvested fishing, aquaculture, award winning vineyards, fine food and wine culture, ecotourism and natural attractions.

The City of Albany, the State’s oldest European settlement (settled in 1826) is the region’s administrative, business and financial hub.