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 value of the sector is difficult to calculate given that it comprises advertising, architecture, art, crafts, design, fashion, film, music, performing arts, publishing, R&D, software, toys and games, TV and radio, and video games. Further complexity is added when accounting for employment that might be a mix of tasks that include creative industries work.

Interest in the South West is based upon the regional attractor, an organised cluster, tourism industry and events that support growth in the sector. There is ad hoc evidence indicating the sector has grown in areas of digital media, design, marketing, film, television, animation and gaming technologies.

The economic contribution of the arts is well recognised in the South West. The
region features Australia’s largest film prize through CinefestOZ, Western Australia’s premier country music event at Boyup Brook, plus the Cherry Harmony Festival, Truffle Kerfuffle and Margaret River Gourmet Escape.

The Capes region features Margaret River Open Studios which attracts 25,000 visitors each year to experience art in many forms, and there are music events from the Bridgetown Blues and Boyup Brook Country Music to Busselton’s Jazz on the Bay and Bunbury’s Grooving the Moo for young audiences.

The mining and resource sectors have been historically defined by low volume products of gold and diamonds along with small volumes of iron ore. However, it on the cusp of significant developments as new and proposed projects are diversifying the extractive mining sector to include mineral sands, nickel, copper, rare earths and crude oil.

The region is well placed to capitalise on increased global demand for clean energy and rare earths. There is significant opportunity for development of potash, mineral sands and tight shale oil in the region.

The Kimberley is famous for world class diamonds and makes up the entire Western Australian diamond output. Recent exploratory drilling has identified new prospects and is considered a significant discovery.

The region has a history of gold mining dating back to the short-lived Halls Creek gold rush in 1885. Today, there are several small working mines and proposed tenements under exploration and development.

Australia’s first heavy rare earth mine ‘Brown’s Range’ dysprosium mine is located south east of Halls Creek. This mine is expected to scale up from pilot to full operations. A globally significant deposit, the Northern Minerals Browns Range project aims to be the next significant dysprosium producer outside of China.

Major resource companies have invested heavily in Western Australia to increase production of liquefied natural gas from the Browse Basin. However, due to environmental and community concerns all gas processing is conducted in the Northern Territory or on floating LNG vessels. However, servicing of offshore rigs infrastructure and labour force transfer requirements contribute significantly to the local economy.

Iron ore bodies offer Australia’s highest-grade hematite Ore reserves. The Sheffield Resources Thunderbird Project is a proposed large-scale, long-life mineral sands mining and processing project located in West Kimberley. Agrimin’s proposed potash mine has reportedly the largest deposits of sulphate of potash in the world.

The Kimberley is an iconic holiday destination. The tourism industry represents 10% of gross revenue generated by 500 businesses and directly employs 12% of workforce, with many other indirect flow-on benefits across the region.

The pristine wilderness and natural environment, along with authentic Indigenous cultural experiences are the main visitor drawcards, attracting 400,000 visitors annually - 91% domestic and 9% international. However, there has been minimal growth in these numbers over the last 5 years.

The regions monsoon climate dictates high seasonal fluctuation in visitation – many businesses slow down or shut for up to five months of the year.

The Kimberley is renowned for the pristine environment and immense, diverse landscape of majestic rivers and floodplains, ancient cave systems, spectacular gorges and thundering waterfalls along with world-class beaches and rugged island archipelagos.

The Pilbara is economically significant, both nationally and internationally, as the region is responsible for a major portion of the production, value, exports and investments of extraction industries commodities, particularly iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Gold, lithium, zinc and cobalt projects are currently being developed across the Pilbara and the City is the epicentre of this growth. Innovative technologies and our proximity to established operations provide opportunities for magnesium and urea processing operations in the city.

The region is rich with gold, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc and other minerals, helping create a rich and diverse local economy.
Renewable energy – the State Government has set aside $117.5 million to match Commonwealth funding to develop hubs in the Pilbara and Mid-West, putting WA at the forefront of this emerging industry.
The proposed hub would complement and build on activity already undertaken by the City and partners to establish the Pilbara Hydrogen Cluster - a group of likeminded organisations focused on building the skills, capability and viability of hydrogen opportunities in the Pilbara.
Future Tails
Future Tails will contribute knowledge to specialist areas of research, including static liquefaction, filtered and dry stacked tailing and numerical modelling for dam break studies. This knowledge will lead the practice, technology and process for the next generation of geotechnical engineers.

Matt Currie, the Vice President of BHP’s Tailings Taskforce, said there was an increasing demand for tailings expertise, and for qualified people and methods to train these new professionals. “The program will provide essential training and development to people at all levels of their career, and help reinforce the different career paths within the tailings discipline,” Mr Currie said.

The Red Earth Arts Precinct is the only facility of its kind in the North West, providing a 450+ seat theatre, rooftop cinema, outdoor amphitheatre and state-of- the-art library. This arts and culture hub is contributing to the city's economic development by attracting major conferences to Karratha, activating the city centre, attracting touring events to the North West, enabling small businesses to host community events, and enhancing the development of the tourism industry through additional visitation to the city.

Here in Kimberley, arts and culture lie in the heart of our community. Our vibrant music scene, festivals and events, artisans and galleries all add something special to every stay.

Though Centre 64 is our undisputed hub for all things arts and culture, you’ll find our creative spirit sprinkled all throughout town. Find amazing blown glass and functional art, unique jewellery pieces, and hand-crafted artisan creations.

The cultures of the East Kimberley are as diverse as the landscape itself. The Aboriginal influence in the area dates back to over 40,000 years and the link from the Miriwoong people of today back through to their ancestors is still very strong traditionally evidenced through the examples of rock art dotted throughout the region. The traditional beliefs of the local aboriginal people are very much alive in their art work of today, in their dancing, their ceremonial and spiritual rites and in the strong family ties.

Mining and mine processing are the South West’s most significant economic contributors. With the growth of the Greenbushes lithium mine, the highest grade and largest hard rock lithium deposit in the world, and the current development of the multi-billion-dollar Albemarle processing plant, mining and minerals processing will become ever more important.

Greenbushes is home to the world’s premium lithium ore (spodumene) resource. The operation was expanded and feeds a processing plant in Kwinana and one under construction in Kemerton, 17km from Bunbury Port.

Energy production in the region is experiencing unprecedented disruption. The days are numbered for traditional coal-fired baseload electricity generation and a local industry dating back to the 19th Century. Closures echo trends towards new energy and growth options that have seen solar and wind become the cheapest forms of power generation.

The energy landscape is changing in the face of climate change, the appetite for renewables, government policy and disruption to traditional baseload production. Homes are the new power generators and it is clear that the next two decades will look nothing like the last two. Rooftop solar take up (300MW across the state) has impacted on the grid and none more so than the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

At the heart of the SWIS is Collie and since the 19th Century coal has been Collie’s major contribution to the State. However, that is changing as policy transitions to renewable and low emission energy production on an increasingly decentralised trading grid.

The Goldfields-Esperance region also has a rich history in agricultural and pastoral activities and a notable recreational and fishing industry. Southern parts of the region, including the Shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe, contains its most valuable agriculture and fishing areas where the majority of the regions livestock and cropping occurs.

The Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative (NNSIDI) will support the creation of new and innovative seed production enterprises throughout the Pilbara, Goldfields Esperance, and the Kimberley. The native seed industry has potential to be a viable alternative to the current practice of wild harvesting.

Mining companies require vast quantities of native seed to meet their post-closure revegetation obligations and their demand for native seed is outstripping supply. As a result, remnant plant communities are coming under increasing pressure. Seed Production Areas (SPAs) can play a role in meeting this shortfall and boost economic development throughout regional Western Australia.

Esperance is already home to an emerging shellfish aquaculture industry. Wylie Bay Abalone is a joint venture abalone ranching project located in Wylie Bay,

Esperance operated by Ocean Grown Abalone and Ocean King Fishing. Through the construction of purpose-built artificial abalone reefs, Ocean Grown Abalone produces commercial-scale quantities of premium, ‘wild-harvested’, Greenlip abalone.

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.

Located 75km south of Perth, the Peel is Western Australia’s smallest region geographically, but one of the state’s fastest growing population centres, presenting opportunities for innovation in workforce skills, industry growth and economic diversification.

The Peel has a diverse landscape incorporating 50 kilometres of pristine coastline and urban, agricultural and horticultural land.

With a coastal plain bordered inland by the Darling Scarp, the Peel region is situated amongst the highest rainfall areas of South Western Australia. This climate, along with 23 rivers, streams and creeks, provides an extensive wetland system that is of international and national significance, supporting diverse and unique flora and fauna.

The five Peel Region councils are Mandurah, Murray, Serpentine Jarrahdale, Waroona and Boddington.

The South West is one of Western Australia’s nine recognised regions located outside the Perth metropolitan area. Fronting the Indian and Southern oceans, covering 24,000 square kilometres and including 12 local government areas, the South West is the most populous and economically diverse of WA’s regions.

Of the landmass that comprises the region, about two-thirds is made up of State Forest, National Parks and regional parks, with the southern forests being the largest component. About 25% is occupied by agricultural and rural uses, with about 8% used for industrial and urban development.

The economy benefits from the combination of the commodity rich hinterland (agriculture and mineral resources) in close proximity to a working port. Alumina refining and associated construction play a major role in economic output and employment. Agriculture, forestry and associated processing are significant sectors supplying dairy, beef, vegetables and wood/timber products for domestic consumption and increasingly for export markets.

Historically, timber production and agriculture have been the predominant land uses within the Margaret River region, which has some of the most productive agricultural land in the State. The agriculture sector is diverse and includes a variety of cropping, viticulture and wine, fruit, flower and vegetable production, olives and olive oil, pasture production and livestock - beef and dairy cattle, sheep and deer, timber and artisan cheese production.

Perth is the second most isolated capital city in the world and the most isolated capital with a population in excess of one million people.

Mining, construction and professional, scientific and technical services are the dominant industry sectors in the region. Technology advancement has contributed to growth in recent years and is changing the way people live and do business.

A number of emerging technologies will continue to transform the economy moving forward including mobile and remote internet access and computing, cloud technology, advanced robotics and virtual intelligence, renewable energies and energy storage, advanced materials design and manufacture, and next generation genomics.

Perth is a city in Western Australia that is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Some of the impacts that Perth is facing or is likely to face in the future include:

More frequent and severe heatwaves, which can lead to heat-related illnesses and deaths, as well as increased air pollution
Changes to rainfall patterns, which could lead to more intense storms and flash flooding Changes to the distribution and abundance of plants and animals, which could affect the health of natural ecosystems and the services they provide
Changes to the ocean currents and temperature, which could affect marine life and ocean chemistry Increased risk of bushfires due to higher temperatures and drier conditions Reduced water availability

To address these impacts, the city of Perth is implementing a number of initiatives, including:

Developing a Climate Change Adaptation Plan to identify and respond to the impacts of climate change on the city
Investing in green infrastructure, such as parks and gardens, to reduce the urban heat island effect
Investing in renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Investing in flood protection measures such as building sea walls and raising the height of the floor of buildings in flood-prone areas
Promoting sustainable transportation options to reduce emissions and improve air quality Implementing water conservation measures and water harvesting techniques to adapt to reduced water availability
Implementing fire-proofing measures in homes and communities to reduce the risk of bushfires

It's important to note that the Western Australia government is also implementing various policies and initiatives to address climate change impacts in the state.

Bauxite, gold and other mining operations in the generate over $3 billion in exports annually.

The Peel’s minerals sector produces alumina, gold, copper and mineral sands. The key resource companies operating regionally include Alcoa (Pinjarra and Wagerup), South 32, Newmont (Boddington), and Doral (Keysbrook).

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 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 changing climate will become an increasingly powerful driver.
Regardless of what people believe is the cause, it is getting hotter – every year for 44 years now. Bushfires have seen issues become increasingly political and there will likely be conflict between those seeking restoration of the planet and those seeking to find a way forward through technology.

Water Security is the capacity of the region to safeguard and provide sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, socio-economic development and preserving ecosystems.

Changing climatic conditions are expected to change the frequency, duration and ferocity of storms. There is a possibility of cyclonic activity moving further
south and an increase in cool season tornadoes with associated storm damage and flooding. Bushfire risk is also expected to increase.

Many people enjoy the natural wonders of the Murray River, Yalgorup National Park, beaches of the Indian Ocean and the Peel-Harvey Estuary, the largest and most diverse estuarine system in the south- west of WA. In the middle reaches of the Peel Region are extensive areas of eucalypt forest and the Darling Scarp to the west of the forests provides an abrupt, stunning backdrop to the Coastal Plain.

All of these environmental assets are under threat from influences including factors associated with climate change and the encroachment of population and industry. All of these assets are at, or nearing, critical levels in their existence and require urgent intervention.

The Kimberley is the northernmost of the nine regions of Western Australia. The diverse population is made up of 50% Aboriginal people representing over 30 traditional language groups. Over 91% of the land in the region has been determined under Native Title and comes under the control or influence of those indigenous people.
The Kimberley region is one of the most remote and untouched ancient landscapes on earth, which features remarkable coastal and inland environment, and is home to many unique birds, mammals, reptiles and marine life. The major regional industries are mining, tourism and agriculture.

Broome is situated along the coastline, in the semi-arid margin of the canning Basin. With a population of 17,000 people, Broome is a recognised pearling and tourist port town, and a hub servicing the pastoral and resources industries.

Derby is located 200km north of Broome. Derby is on Salt-Water country and boasts the second largest tidal movements in the world and is the gateway to the thousand islands of the Dampier Peninsula.

Fitzroy Crossing is located on the banks of the Fitzroy River. With a range of fertile soil types, the area is used extensively for livestock and horticulture production.

Halls Creek comprises of desert country and pastoral grazing land with a number of unique natural attractions such as the World heritage Listed Purnululu National Park and Wolf Creek Crater forming the basis of a tourism industry.

Kununurra sits just 37km west of the Northern Territory border and is a hub for tourism, mining and agriculture including the world heritage listed Purnululu National Park – Bungle Bungle Ranges, the Ord River Irrigation Project and the massive man-made Lake Argyle.

Wyndham is located at the point at which five rivers flow into the Cambridge Gulf and was established in 1886 as a port town which was the principal point of entry during the gold rush. Today, its port services the growing pastoral and agriculture industries of the region.