Northern Agricultural Region, WA

Environmental account submitted by Northern Agricultural Catchments Council in 2014.

The Northern Agricultural region covers an area of Western Australia which borders the Indian Ocean; the first coastline sighted by Dutch explorers in the 1600s. The region contains two of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots (Mount Lesueur-Eneabba and the Geraldton to Shark Bay Sandplains) and is famous for its pristine beaches and spectacular array of wild flowers from July to October. Broadcare agriculture is the predominate industry, but fishing, mining and tourism also contribute strongly to the economy. The region’s climate varies from a mild Mediterranean in the coastal areas to a semi-arid climate further inland. Annual median rainfall varies from 350–560 mm.