Midwest Region
If you have found yourself in the Midwest area of Western Australia, you are in for a treat! Known for its wild and beautiful natural areas, it is especially famous for spectacular displays of seasonal wildflowers and unique geological formations scattered from the coast to the desert.
A vastly diverse part of Western Australia it spans from Green Head to Kalbarri along the coast and east to Meekatharra and Sandstone. Approximately 73% of the region’s 58,000 folk live in Geraldton. The sub-regions are known as the Batavia Coast, Murchison and North Midlands.
The majority of the region inland has hot dry summers and cold winters, with the southern coastal area enjoying a Mediterranean climate, warm summers and wet cool winters. The remaining northern coastal areas have hot dry summers with mild winters. In general, the annual coastal rainfall ranges from 400 – 500 mm and decreases significantly inland to less than 250 mm. Check out local tourism resources to find out when the rain has come and the flowers have bloomed!
Home to three biodiversity hotspots, Mount Lesuer- Eneabba in the southern portion of the region, the Geraldton to Shark Bay sand plains in the northern section and the Central and Eastern Avon Wheatbelt, the area is greatly valued by environmental travellers and tourists from the state, the nation and globally.
A biodiversity hotspot is an area characterized by an extraordinarily large number of endemic plant species found in relatively small areas that are facing serious threat from human activities. There are 36 identified hotspots in the world, 15 in Australia, and eight in Western Australia. The Southwest of Australia is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, along with the Forests of East Australia.
Karara Rangeland Park is a 560,672-hectare park featuring ironstone ridges, permanent waterholes, vast salt lakes and aboriginal heritage and an amazing bloom of annual wildflowers. The park stretches from East of Morawa and Perenjori, Northwest of Paynes Find, west of the Great Northern Highway and south of Yalgoo.
The Kalbarri National Park consists of 183 004 hectares stretching inland from the coast and surrounding the lower reaches of the Murchison River which snakes around 80 km of gorge before entering the ocean at Kalbarri. Attractions in this area include the recently opened skywalk, and many hiking trails to explore the diverse landscape, geology and vegetation.
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park is the regions fabulous marine park, with 210 individual islands 60 – 80 km off the coast covering 100 km from north to south. These islands form the most abundant seabird breeding area in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the area is rich in Maritime history.
The stunning Hutt Lagoon is a pink lake located at Port Gregory, it's amazing colour range is caused by high salinity and an alga that turns the lake into a variety of different pinks or even red, depending on the light and time of day.
All of this natural wonder is supported by a number of community landcare organizations, where committed community volunteers work alongside environmental practitioners to protect and restore the environment. If you spend time in the region and want to contribute to the actions of these amazing groups of people, see the great opportunities below to get involved.
Community landcare and environmental groups you can join:
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Batavia Coastcare Network |
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Birdlife Mid-west-Geraldton |
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Bush Heritage Australia |
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Chapman River Friends |
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Friends of Lancelin Coast Inc |
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Friends of Moore River Estuary |
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Gunduwa Regional Conservation Association |
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Houtman Abrolhos Conservation Network
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Jurien Bay Regional Herbarium Group |
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Ledge Point Coastcare Group |
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Western Mulga |
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Moore Catchment Council |
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Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group |
Farmer and Biosecurity Groups
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Group name |
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Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association |
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Liebe Group
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Midlands Biosecurity Group |
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Midwest Carbon Zero |
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Mingenew Irwin Group |
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Moora Miling Pasture Improvement Group |
https://www.gga.org.au/group/moora-miling-pasture-improvement-group/ |
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Morawa Farm Improvement Group |
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Mullewa Dryland Farmers Initiative |
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Northern Agri Group |
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Northern Biosecurity Group |
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O’Connor Research Group |
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Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA) |
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Three Springs Farm Innovation Network (3FIN) |
https://www.gga.org.au/group/three-springs-grower-group-in-formation/ |
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Northern Biosecurity Group |
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West Midlands Group |
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Yuna Farm Improvement Group |
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Western Australian Livestock Research Council (WALRC) |
https://www.gga.org.au/group/western-australian-livestock-research-council/ |
Northern Agricultural Catchment Council (NACC) NRM
Within the Midwest region, NACC covers 7.5 million hectares across the Batavia coast and North midlands subregions. The group works with local communities from Gingin in the south to Kalbarri in the north, east to Mullewa, Perenjori and Kalannie following along the Local Government Area (LGA) boundaries. This regional boundary also includes the coastline and waters (to three nautical miles and including the Abrolhos Islands).
The main focus of projects within the organisation falls within the themes of biodiversity, coastal and marine, sustainable agriculture and aboriginal custodianship.
Home Page - NACC - Northern Agricultural Catchments Council
Rangelands NRM
The Murchison subregion of the Midwest is covered by the Rangelands NRM, which is the largest NRM region in the state stretching across 227 million hectares or 85% of Western Australia. It was established to address the need for greater ecological preservation and sustainability across the region. As with all regional NRM groups, this is achieved through the creation of relationships and partnerships across all members of the community, including governments (25 Local Governments), schools, universities and industry.
Within this vast landscape there are many environmental diamonds of which four are UNESCO World Heritage listed, five RAMSAR sites.
First Nations Land Management Activity Links
The traditional owners for the northern section of the Midwest region are the Yamatji People, with the Noongar people being the traditional owners for the southern portion of the region. The boundary between the two groups is located in the Leeman-Green Head area. There are eight language groups across the Midwest region, with at least six being under the Yamatiji people and at least two under the Noongar people.
- Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation - represents the families and groups that are the traditional custodians of the Yamatji Nation in the Midwest. The aim is to make a difference to their people by implementing and enhancing benefits, working as a team to empower them, collaborating with partners for a stronger future and staying accountable. The corporation works on country and sea through its ranger programs and preserving and managing large tracts of land in partnership with organizations such as DBCA
- Home | Badimia Bandi Barna Aboriginal Corporation -covers the Shires of Dalwallinu, Yalgoo and Mt Magnet of which Mt Magnet is located within the Midwest region. The area is rich in the ancient landscapes of break-aways, salt lakes and mulga country. The Corporation works with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy preserving the significant sites within land that the AWC manage as well as working with Bush Heritage Australia and the Western Mulga Rangers protecting the endangered Mallee Fowl, cleaning out Gnamma holes and searching for artifacts.
- BLAC – Badimia Land Aboriginal Corporation- Manages heritage and Land Projects for the Badimia people in conjunction with heritage link.
- Yued Aboriginal Corporation - represents the people within the Yued region, which is a language dialect group under the Noongar people north of Perth. The Yued community actively engage with the Moore River Catchment in projects that protect country and the flora and fauna within it.
- Kwelena Mambakort Wedge Island Aboriginal Corporation is part of the Yued country, which supports a successful Ranger Program. This Ranger program regularly works with NACC and their NRM Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program on environmental projects and celebrating and sharing culture. The Corporation also conducts cultural tours of Wedge Island showcasing this A Class reserve and the native fauna to the wider community.
- Naaguja Warangkarri Aboriginal Corporation is based in Nabawa, between Northampton and Geraldton. The Corporation aims to work towards the preservation and conservation of aboriginal culture and tradition, provide teaching of cultural tradition to members and provide work experience and training to members. The Corporation also works closely with NACC within their Midwest Ranger program.
First nations Ranger groups:
- Yamatji Land Rangers – Working closely with DBCA caring for Country in the Midwest region providing a variety of differing activities.
- Yamatiji Sea Rangers – Centers on conserving, protecting and enhancing natural and cultural values on sea country, including the Abrolhos island Marine Park and working closely with a wide variety of organizations.
- Midwest Ranger Program (NACC) – Provides opportunities for aboriginal people to engage in NRM activities while delivering on-ground conservation in the Midwest region.
- Kwelena Mambakort Wedge Island Aboriginal Corporation Rangers – Working closely with DBCA, NACC on the conservation and management of Wedge Island.
- Yued Rangers- The Yued community works closely with the Moore Catchment Council to implement on-ground projects.
Land use
The Midwest region supports over 26 300 jobs and has an annual economic output of $17.742 billion. The main industries that contribute to this include broadacre agriculture, pastural leases, mining (iron ore, gold, copper, nickel, silver and natural gas), tourism and fishing such as the rock lobster industry. The mining industry is the largest employer in the region.
Mid West Region Economy, Jobs, and Business Insights | Summary | REMPLAN
