7/11/01
New research shows sound economic performances across much of regional Western Australia, according to Local Government and Regional Development Minister Tom Stephens.
The findings come from a set of publications called Economic Perspectives which the State Government produces every two years to provide key data to guide investment decisions and business development in WA's nine regions.
Mr Stephens says the latest series provides statistical profile and analysis of indicators such as employment levels, demographics, major industry sectors, exports, tourism and infrastructure.
Over the past two years, populations in eight of the nine regions experienced strong growth for example:
- Kimberley, due to general urban expansion in Broome;
- Peel, due to Mandurah's appeal as a retirement spot/viable alternative to Perth; and
- South-West, due to growth of the wine industry and Bunbury becoming a favoured spot to live in.
There was strong growth in the mining sector underpinned by high oil and nickel prices.
Since 1998, the value of mining in the regions has grown from $18billion to $26billion.
In particular, the Pilbara region, the State's premier mining region, had a value of production of almost $12billion in 2000. In the Goldfields, nickel production was worth $1.1billion, largely reflecting the strong demand from Asia for stainless steel.
The diverse manufacturing sector is a valuable contributor to the regional economy and was worth $4.8billion. It supports local industries such as mining, fishing, timber and agriculture. The South-West has the largest manufacturing base, dominated by a $1billion mineral processing and manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing turnover increased in all nine regions primarily due to the strong surge in exports of manufactured metal products.
Unique attractions in regional WA makes tourism a key industry. In 1999 $1.5billion was spent in the regions by visitors from Australia. The Kimberley's spectacular coastline, inland gorges and national parks and the South-West's world-class beaches, forests and wineries attracted more than a third of this total domestic spend.
"To continue to capitalise on the State's tourism industry it is essential that air services to the regions meet the capacity need of tourists and communities to ensure their future growth," Mr Stephens said.
Despite a series of adverse seasons in the Wheatbelt, positives in the agriculture sector included strong growth in the canola industry over six regions and an increase in the value of crops, eggs, milk and meat production in the South-West.
The fishing sector performed exceptionally well, buoyed by record lobster catches in the Mid-West, Wheatbelt and Peel regions. There was also a high catch of scallop and abalone in the Goldfields-Esperance region. Over the two past two years, the value of the fishing industry in the regions has grown from $300million to $450million.
Economic Perspectives is available for each region through the local offices of their Regional Development Commissions in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Peel, South-West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance.
The series is published by the Department of Local Government and Regional commissions.
The content can also be downloaded from the web at
http://www.regional.wa.gov.au/perspectives Media contact: Julie Cole 9213 6500
