OUR REGION
Regional Overview
The Kimberley is the northernmost region of Western Australia, with a coastline facing the Indian Ocean to the west and the Timor Sea to the north. It encompasses an area of 424,517 square kilometres (one-sixth of the WA's total land area, three times the size of the United Kingdom or twice the size of Victoria) and is divided into four Local Government areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
The main population centres are Broome, Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Fitzroy Crossing, with a total estimated population of 35,748 people (almost one person for every 12km2). There are also approximately 200 Aboriginal communities of various sizes throughout the Kimberley, with Indigenous Australians comprising of 47.3% of the population (2001 Census).
The estimated annual growth of the Kimberley population in the period of 2000-2005 was 2.7%, more than double the 1.2% growth rate for regional WA. The median age of the resident population at the 2001 Census was 28 years, compared to 34 years of the State as a whole.
The Kimberley has a diverse regional economy. Mining, retail, tourism, construction, pearling, manufacturing and agriculture are all major contributors to the Region’s economic output.
Source: Department of Local Government and Regional Development
The economy, as well as lifestyle, in the Kimberley is substantially influenced by the tropical monsoon climate. There are two dominant seasons separated by short transitional periods. The wet season has hot and humid conditions from November to April, with 90% of rainfall falling in this period. The dry season has sunny days and cooler nights from May to October.
Summary of Regional Issues
The Kimberley faces issues of employment and training that are markedly different from the rest of Australia. The region has a high mobility rate. Some employment is seasonal, and increasingly, major companies are using contract labour from outside the region (fly in, fly out operations). The population is spread between a number of larger centres and many remote communities. Levels of literacy and numeracy are considered to be low, hindering access to the limited employment opportunities available.
The principal economic industries show promising growth in several areas, including exciting prospects for further mineral exploration and development opportunities in horticulture and tourism. However, the industry base, and hence employment opportunities for the region remain limited.
Official unemployment figures for 2004/05 were 6.3% for the region and are higher than the WA average of approximately 4.5%. If Community Development Employment program (CDEP) participants are regarded as unemployed, this figure increases, illustrating the magnitude of the issues facing the region and the Kimberley Area Consultative Committee. The challenge facing the Kimberley Area Consultative Committee is to develop innovative solutions to meet the unique needs of the region.
Challenges
The Kimberley has a relatively small population and settlement is dispersed across a large geographic area. Small towns and remote settlements in the region currently provide few opportunities for employment because of limited economic diversity and activity. Factors such as remoteness, the sub-tropical climate and the need to import skills lead to a high cost of doing business. The region has a highly transient population, which impacts on skills retention and on the availability of skilled people. Economic development, employment development, and the provision of training are constrained, particularly in remote communities, by distance from large centres and by the high cost of providing and maintaining appropriate infrastructure and services. Monsoonal wet season activity can severely restrict transport and communications services during the period November to April each year. Increased investment is required in the development and application of appropriate technologies. Economic development and jobs growth will be contingent on the availability of affordable, appropriate and accessible communications technology. Levels of literacy and numeracy are low throughout the region. Participation in the workforce and in training is restricted by a lack of social infrastructure such as public transport, flexible childcare and hostel accommodation.
Opportunities
The Kimberley has a relatively young population compared to the State average. The region has a high potential for growth from an existing small population base. Diversity of language and culture within the region presents a competitive advantage. Remoteness will become less of an economic impediment as appropriate technologies are developed and applied. A relatively unspoilt natural environment will become an increasingly valuable resource in the global and national context. The dry season climate is an asset in the development of the tourism industry. The features of the Kimberley wet season offer potential to further develop tourism markets. Infrastructure development will provide opportunities for local jobs and training. Investment in appropriate social infrastructure will realise high returns in the creation of jobs and in skills development.
Statistics sourced from the Kimberley Economic Perspective / Kimberley Development Commission, May 2003, unless otherwise specified. |
