DRAFT Why Invest In Meekatharra P2 A Town of Golden Prospects This brochure has been prepared as background information for potential investors, funding agencies, entrepreneurs, small business owners, families and others wanting to share and contribute to the Meekatharra’s (‘Meeka’s’) future growth.

P3 Why Invest In Meekatharra Meeka – a good place to stop, look, work and invest.

Location – strategically located as a key regional 1 transport hub for the Murchison sub-region.

Community and Lifestyle – a small rural community 2 lifestyle with regional level facilities.

Business – diverse economic base with room for growing 3 business and investment.

Why Invest In Meekatharra P4 Meeka Snapshot

Shire Population 2011 Location Economy (GRP) (2011/12) Unemployment 1,377 670km $1.42 NE Perth BILLION 3.1%

Key Economic Number Operating Average Wage (2011) Industry/Employment Sectors Businesses Metal Ore Mining, Mining, Mining Support Pastoral, $920 Services, Government 397 and Education businesses Tourism Services /week (mostly employ between 1 and 4 people)

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r G MERREDIN 200 kilometres MINDARIE YORK PERTH CBrDoo kton Hw y ROCKINGHAM NORSEMAN Ey re H Why Invest In Meekatharra P6 MANDURAH wy CLIFTON 1. Location

Strategically located within the gold and iron- ore rich fields of northern Western Australia, Meekatharra is the key service centre for the surrounding pastoral and mining sector and the broader Murchison sub-region. Meekatharra is strategically located on the Great Northern Road Air Highway, capturing freight movement heading north to the Pilbara region. Meekatharra is the major service centre in the Shire, servicing established mines and mineral exploration companies, as well as pastoral stations. It is the largest and most populous centre in the Murchison sub-region. The town is located directly on the Great The town is serviced by the Meekatharra Northern Highway, which is a key State Regional Airport, comprising a 2,181sqm Located approximately 8.5 hours’ drive from Perth and 7 Highway and freight route linking Perth runway. The airport services the town and hours from Geraldton, Meekatharra is an expansive outback to Darwin. The highway is constructed surrounding resource sector and serves an Shire, taking in significant pastoral, mining and Aboriginal as a sealed, predominantly 2-lane single important diversion airport for inbound and lands. carriageway. transcontinental flights to Australia. The airport also serves as a regional base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Skippers Aviation provides services to and from Perth (via Wiluna, Mt Magnet) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

P7 Why Invest In Meekatharra Why Invest In Meekatharra P8 P9 Why Invest In Meekatharra 2. Community & Lifestyle

Meekatharra supports simple and peaceful Climate Demographics lifestyle choices against the backdrop of a rich, red landscape.

Meekatharra is a cohesive and safe community that is Meekatharra has an average maximum The resident population of Meekatharra is in founded on its rich pastoral and gold mining history, with temperature of 28.9ºC and minimum of 15.9ºC, the order of 1,400 (800 of which live in the an array of historic and modern attractions. The towns’ typical of a remote rural location. The coolest town of Meekatharra). This population can remoteness, expansive setting and natural environment months are June and July. Average annual however fluctuate given the highly transient make it a unique and spectacular place to visit. The Shire rainfall is 237.7mm, most of which falls in nature of the town. At the 2011 Census, falls within one if the world’s biodiversity hotspots, featuring January, February and June. the median age was 35.1 years, with a high an array of flora and fauna, including wildflowers. proportion of people aged between 20 and 49

With the benefits of a small regional town, Meekatharra is a 70 years reflecting the employment opportunities Mean Rainfall (mm) associated with the mining sector. community oriented town and an ideal location for young Mean Temperrature C 60 families. The town offers both primary and secondary schooling, a hospital and an array of leisure facilities 50 including a swimming pool, oval and tennis courts and 40 other recreational facilities. The town hosts a significant

Indigenous population and attracts high levels of workers 30 employed within the surrounding mining and pastoral industries, as well as Government employees. 20

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Why Invest In Meekatharra P10 Community Services Services and Housing Facilities and Trades

Meekatharra provides a well-established Housing within Meekatharra comprises There is a variety of services and trades in service sector to support the local population predominantly single dwellings, however some town which support the town and surrounding and acts as a major supply centre for pastoral mining accommodation also exists within the mining and pastoral sectors. This includes stations and established mines and mineral town. Approximately 14 dwellings have been plumbing and electrical services, hire services, exploration groups in the Murchison sub- built in the town in the past 10 years, with motor vehicle services and several other region. some existing houses recently refurbished by businesses. the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Government services within town include the Shire of Meekatharra and several State Government agencies. Services not located in town are provided via the Mid-West regional office in Geraldton, or in Perth.

Education and health facilities comprise the Meekatharra District High School (including a kindergarten and pre-primary), the Karalundi Aboriginal Educational Community School and the Meekatharra District Hospital, which provides emergency healthcare facilities and supplied the staff called upon for Royal Flying Doctor Service operations.

P11 Why Invest In Meekatharra Tourism

Tourism is an important element as it enhances economic diversity, quality of life for residents and creates job opportunities. Meekatharra is a Shire with considerable European and Indigenous heritage, natural wonders, settlement history and rich, red landscapes. In recent times, the Shire has developed its tourism industry through establishing the Meeka Rangelands Discovery Trail; a 3km walk around the Meekatharra Creek comprising interpretive signage.

Located in the heart of the Murchison sub-region , the Shire also comprises other places of interest dating back to the early gold rush years, including the ghost towns of Nannine and Peak Hill, the State Battery, Peace Gorge and 25 Mile Well. Wildflowers and wildlife are also a significant attraction to the area.

The town is well equipped with tourist accommodation facilities, comprising the Commercial Hotel, Meekatharra Hotel and Royal Mail Hotel, the Auski Inland Motel and the Meekatharra Accommodation Centre (Caravan Park). The various hotels also provide food and beverage options.

Why Invest In Meekatharra P12 3. Business Wiluna (approx. 180km) D A ROA HARR EEKAT ORLIE M in Meeka KALGO

Newman (approx. 390km)

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Meekatharra contributes significantly to the State economy, LUKE ST with a gross regional product (GRP) of $1.42 billion in

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EE R 35% of the total sub-regional GRP. With T S S TREE T Education / Medical / Recreation Precinct T T HI a rich agriculture and gold mining G EE S H R R T E S C N T PE S EE R H T G S history, activity in these industries I Q Tourist Accommodation uses H U EE S SA T N VA REE drives the Shire’s economy and GE T Light/ Service Industry Precinct provides opportunities for Residential

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Meeka STR EE POR T Main Street Retail / Community Precinct TER E MEEKA OYN J U GASC NC T ION T RT S IN SHO Meekatharra has room A M

RO Andy Well Accommodation Village AD ST REE C T O for growing industry N has room S O

L S R OBE and business. The town RTS DO UGL AS S ST ST GLA T DOU S N A comprises a fully serviced EG for growing R S TREE L T L I H Y CONN T AU EE A GH R light industrial estate, catering TO T T N W O S L H R G A I D H R E V N I ST for a diverse range of light and L ER R O AM business Y E E CA H DD WA Y P L T L I A R R G O WA service industries, which have been N T L N R R I T O A O O A A A M S R T D D E A R EE R ST M Y REE G T T critical in attracting and maintaining WA H IG H

N R E EET H TR T S R O local industry and have had a major role N

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D O N O V pastoral sector. A N

STR EET Being centrally and strategically located on the Great LIV ING STO NE Northern Highway, Meekatharra is also working to become 19

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P13 Why Invest In Meekatharra Occupation - Residents Industry of Workers vs Residents MEEKATHARRA LGA - 2001 - 2011 WORKERS - RESIDENTS

2001 Other Services Managers 2011 Workers Arts & Recreation Services Residents Health Care & Social Assistance Professionals Retail, Education & Training Public Administration Trades and & Safety Technicians & Administrative & Professionals Trades Workers Support Services Professional, Scientific & Technical Community & Rental, Hiring & Personal Service Real Estate The Meekatharra Shire provides a well- Workers Financial & Insurance established service sector to support the Services Clerical & local catchment of approximately 1,377 Administrative Information Media & Telecommunications people. Whilst professional services are Workers Transport, Postal & limited, trades are well catered for and are Warehousing capable of supporting new development. Key Accommodation & Sales Workers Food Services trades include mechanical repair, plumbing, Retail Trade carpentry, hire and technical services, freight Machinery Wholesale Trade services and building contractors. Operators & Drivers Construction Meekatharra town has a limited but strong retail sector, including businesses such as Electricity, Water & Labourers Waste Foodworks, BHP and Coles Express, a butcher, Manufacturing bakery, pharmacy, beauty salon and a café. The town also has a variety of hotels which 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Mining

provide accommodation as well as a motel Source : ABS Census 2011; Urbis Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing and caravan park. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Source : ABS Census 2011; Urbis

Why Invest In Meekatharra P14 Key Projects

PROJECT DETAILS COST LEAD AGENCY TIMELINE

»» Relocation of St Barbs Hangar to RFDS leased area (completed). »» Apron and Aircraft parking area Meekatharra Airport Upgrade $ 400,000.00 Shire of Meekatharra 2013/14 upgrade. »» Sealing of light aircraft parking area.

Preparation of a Revitalisation Meekatharra Town Revitalisation $ 70,0000.00 Shire of Meekatharra 2014 Strategy

»» Review and analysis of economic Meekatharra Economic opportunities, $ 70,000.00 Shire of Meekatharra 2014 Development Strategy »» Preparation of Economic Development Strategy.

Sealing of up to 25km of road to Main Roads WA, Department of Sealing of Goldfields Highway be fully reconstructed and sealed, 3 year period between 2012/13 and $ 10,000,000.00 Regional Development (Royalties (Wiluna to Meekatharra) in worst affected areas (eventual 2014/15 for Regions) extent of sealing – 100km)

Meekatharra Local Planning Strategy and Scheme Review Review of Town Planning Scheme. $ 75,000.00 Shire of Meekatharra 2014/2015

P15 Why Invest In Meekatharra Proudly designed by Urbis Graphics

More Information WWW.MEEKASHIRE.WA.GOV.AU WWW.MWDC.WA.GOV.AU WWW.RDA.ORG.AU

Assistance For further information, please contact the Shire of Meekatharra.

Geoff Carberry Community Development Officer

Ph: 08 9980 0600 Fax: 08 9981 1505 E: [email protected]