Local Profile

2017

Prepared by the Sustainable Development Directorate First published in 2012

© Shire of Augusta Margaret River 2017 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River WA

PO Box 61 MARGARET RIVER WA 6285

(08) 9780 5255 www.amrshire.wa.gov.au Updated October 2017

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Contents

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 Regional Overview 13

3.0 History 16

4.0 Demography 18

5.0 Community and Culture 30

6.0 The Economy 35

7.0 Community Planning 47

Reference material 53

Notes on ABS data 54

Acknowledgments 55

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Alignment with Community Strategic Plan 2036 This document relates to Goal 5 ‘Effective leadership and governance’ in the Community Strategic Plan.

Goal 1 Valuing and enhancing the natural environment

Goal 2 Welcoming, and inclusive and healthy communities

Goal 3 Ensuring sustainable development

Goal 4 Vibrant and diverse economy

Goal 5 Effective leadership and governance

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Local Profile

This Local Profile is published by the Shire to provide data to ratepayers, residents, visitors, investors, consultants and the business community requiring information about the Shire including demographic change, strategic planning and related issues. A brief description and history of the Shire is provided along with some population and demographic data from the 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Issues related to local recreation and cultural activities, events, community resources, agriculture, industry, housing, the economy, urban growth and other planning issues are addressed briefly. It is anticipated that the information provided in the Profile will assist the community to understand the issues that are shaping growth in the Shire as well as the impacts of change as urban development continues. The information in this publication is gathered from a variety of sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, State Government authorities and other agencies e.g. the South West Development Commission. While the information included is derived from a number of sources, the Shire has attempted to ensure that the data is correct at the time of publication. However, the Shire does not accept responsibility for any errors that may arise from the use of this information.

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1.0 Introduction

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River is a popular tourist destination known for its rural landscapes, scenic forests, national parks, caves, restaurants, galleries, coastal scenery, beaches, excellent surf, and for its vineyards and wines. The beaches and surfing are important attractions, bringing in a large number of visitors. The local wine industry has experienced strong growth and the region is recognised as a producer of premium wines. As with any area catering to thousands of tourists each year, the Shire has a growing accommodation and hospitality sector. There is also substantial farming activity, primarily beef and dairy farming, along with sheep farming, horticulture, viticulture and agro-forestry. Value adding of produce is significant, with locally made dairy products and boutique gourmet ranges widely available. The estimated resident population (ERP) of the Shire was 14,687 in 2016 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Significant residential development has occurred within the Shire over the past ten years and this is expected to continue, creating a need to accommodate population growth. This growth will also influence the demographic and cultural profile of the Shire’s population. The Shire is therefore developing strategies to respond to emerging challenges related to managing demographic change in a growing community; and addressing increased demand for community infrastructure, facilities and services. The Margaret River region has an enviable position in view of its existing brand and its competitive position in wine, tourism, food production, agriculture and creative industries. In particular, its high level of amenity is very attractive to current and aspiring residents.

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1.1 Location The Shire of Augusta Margaret River is a rural municipality situated on the Indian and Southern Ocean coasts approximately 250 kilometres south of Perth in the south west of Western Australia. The Shire comprises valuable agricultural and natural resources while also being an important tourist destination. Figure 1 South West Western Australia

Indian

Ocean

Shire of Augusta- Margaret River

Southern

Ocean

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1.2 Description Margaret River is the name of a river, a town and a wine region. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has an area of approximately 2,240 square kilometres and an extensive coastline with 120 kilometres of beaches, bays and rocky points. The Shire comprises rural countryside, sandy beaches, native forests and National Parks. The Margaret River flows to the ocean at Prevelly while the Blackwood River flows to Augusta in the south. Margaret River, Augusta and Cowaramup are the major towns in the Shire. Other settlements include Karridale, Witchcliffe, Prevelly/Gnarabup, Rosa Brook and Gracetown. The Shire extends for approximately 60 kilometres north to south and 60 kilometres from the west coast to the eastern boundary with the Shire of Nannup. There are more than 1,000 square kilometres of forest in the Shire including Scott National Park. The Leeuwin- Naturaliste National Park includes the Boranup Karri Forest between Caves Road and the coast where karri trees reach 60 metres in height and dominate the landscape. Figure 2 Augusta Margaret River Shire map

__ Shire boundary _ _ LNRSPP policy area boundary

Source: Dept of Planning, Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge State Planning Policy 6.1.

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The coastline, National Parks and a rural mosaic of pasturelands highlight the Shire’s setting, which features significant areas of remnant vegetation as well as agricultural landscapes. This scenic landscape setting is uniquely complemented by the area’s renowned viticulture, tourism, arts, and recreational opportunities. Agriculture in the Shire includes the major industries of viticulture and wine production, dairy and beef cattle, sheep and horticulture. Tourism is another industry with the area popular for its rugged coast, fishing, surfing, galleries, vineyards and forests. It is developing a more diverse economy, which has traditionally been based on agriculture, predominantly dairying, beef and timber. The Shire’s dairy industry supplies local, interstate and export markets with quality dairy produce. The Margaret River wine region includes portions of the local government areas of Busselton and Augusta Margaret River and wineries supply domestic and export markets. According to the ABS the Shire’s population was 14,687 in 2016, an increase of 2.6% on the 2015 estimate of 14,320. The growth occurring in the urban areas is a response to the area’s rural and coastal amenity, as well as its proximity to recreation opportunities. The Shire is also popular with those seeking alternative lifestyles or to establish hobby farms. Changes in the population, age structure and cultural diversity over time creates challenges in maintaining quality lifestyles for residents and ensuring that adequate infrastructure, facilities and services are available over strategic time frames.

1.3 Climate The climate of the South West region is typically Mediterranean, with warm to hot dry summers and mild, wet winters. The majority of rainfall occurs between May and September, with heaviest falls during the winter months from June to August. Rainfall in the Augusta Margaret River area is generally higher and more reliable than other areas of the South West, with between 850 and 1,200 mm annually, and notably drier than average in recent years. The Indian and Southern Oceans moderate the effect of temperature in the Shire providing smaller diurnal and seasonal variations and a milder climate than inland areas. Mean daily temperatures vary from around 10 degrees in August to 26 degrees in February. Summers are very dry, with December, January, and February receiving a monthly average of less than 25mm of rain. Summers are typically very warm and cloudless although cooling afternoon sea breezes are common. The hot dry summers and seasonal strong winds create an environment where there is a significant risk of bush fire, therefore a high degree of caution is required by residents and visitors at all times.

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1.4 Geography

The Shire is situated within four distinct physiographic regions as follows (Tille & Lantzke, 1990): The Blackwood Plateau is located towards the interior of the Shire and extends beyond the eastern boundary. The plateau has a gently undulating surface and typically rises to between 80 and 180 metres above sea level, formed on laterised sedimentary rocks. The Margaret River Plateau is between 5 and 15km wide and extends from Dunsborough to Augusta. The plateau has formed on lateritised granitic and gneissic basement rock. The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Coast is a narrow strip of land up to 6km wide running along the coast from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. Dune sand and Tamala Limestone overlie Precambrian rocks along the coast with numerous caves developed in the limestone. The Southern Coastal Plain is 15km wide and extends eastward from the Blackwood River. It is characterised by a line of high dunes running along the southern coast. The Shire has a spectacular coastal environment that is exposed to the full energy of the Indian Ocean in the west and a relatively more sheltered embayment facing the Southern Ocean in the south. The high-energy west coast has a number of world-renowned surfing breaks and attracts large numbers of surfers. The sheltered embayment on the south coast is an ideal habitat for whales and that has created a great attraction for visitors. The coast is a major attraction for residents and tourists, and there has been a lot of pressure exerted on the coast for residential and recreation uses. Large numbers of surfers and beach users have led to the degradation of the coast in some areas. The Shire has also experienced population growth in recent years and there is ongoing pressure to develop coastal areas to give more people access to the coast. The coastline is potentially an unstable landform - sandy coasts in particular accrete and recede in response to changing coastal processes such as wind, waves and sediment supply. Accordingly, urban development is now being accommodated in more inland locations including Margaret River, Cowaramup and Witchcliffe. The Shire is also located in two “Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation of Australia regions” as follows: Southern Jarrah Forest Region The northeastern portion of the Shire represents part of the Yilgarn Craton where weathering has led to the development of a hardened layer of sediments on the plateau. The vegetation of this region generally comprises jarrah-marri forest on areas of laterite gravels. Sediments derived from weathering and carried by water have allowed the development of Peppermint shrublands. Jarrah forests also occur interspersed with species rich shrublands (Molloy et al 2007). Warren Region In the west and south of the Shire, this region includes several geological formations which have been dissected to form an undulating landscape. Karri is found on loamy soils and jarrah-marri forest is found predominantly on sand/laterite soils. Peppermint and banksia woodlands and heaths are found on marine dunes of Holocene age. Low jarrah woodlands as well as paperbark and sedge swamps are found in leached sandy soils in depressions and plains (Molloy et al 2007).

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1.5 Biodiversity The south west of Western Australia is recognised by Conservation International as one of thirty-four global hotspots of biodiversity and the only international biodiversity hotspot in Australia. The Busselton Augusta region has also been independently identified as one of fifteen national biodiversity hotspots within Australia. Biodiversity hotspots are designated to acknowledge the exceptional concentration and diversity of species in these areas as well as the high degree of endemism (species that occur nowhere else). Just as importantly, they highlight threats to this biodiversity as a result of the significant loss of habitat in these areas. The Shire lies within the South West’s botanical province which supports an estimated 8,000 taxa of vascular plants, representing two thirds of the estimated plant taxa in Western Australia. Over 80% of the plant taxa in the South West are endemic to the province i.e. they are not found anywhere else (Beard et al. 2000).

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1.6 Margaret River Wine Region Situated on the Indian Ocean coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, the Margaret River wine region is one of Australia’s premium wine regions. The absence of generally extreme summer and winter temperatures provides ideal growing conditions. The Margaret River region comprises a significant variety of wine producers, which range from small boutique producers to quite large operations. In 2015, around 4,900 hectares were under vine in the region and 25,400 tonnes of grapes were harvested, down from 35,800 tonnes in 2012. Source: ABS Vineyard Survey. Since 2010 the proportion of white wine grapes has been around 60%, with 40% red wine grapes. The principal soil type is predominantly gravelly, sandy loam that has formed directly from the underlying granite and gneissic rock and is highly permeable when moist. Humidity levels are ideal during the growing period and the combination of climate, soil and viticulture practices leads to consistently high quality fruit of intense flavour. Consequently, annual vintages continue to produce premium wines and reinforce Margaret River's reputation. The principal grape varieties include shiraz, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, semillon, sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc and verdelho.

Figure 3

Margaret River Wine Region

Source: Australian Wine and Brandy Association 2009

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1.7 Margaret River To Noongar people, the Margaret River is known as Wooditchup, named after the magic man, Wooditch, who created the river in the Nyitting or the Dreaming. The town of Margaret River is approximately 100 kilometres south of Bunbury and 270 kilometres south of Perth and was originally developed as a rural service centre for farming in the area, especially dairying. Margaret River is now the commercial and administrative centre of the Shire and had a population of around 7,400 in 2016. Margaret River is an attractive town which has a range of speciality shops and boutiques and plenty to tempt the adventurous shopper. Choices range from art galleries, gourmet cuisine, fashion, jewellery, surf shops and bookshops to supermarkets and general retail. Funding has been achieved for a perimeter road to the east of Margaret River that would provide for removal of heavy vehicles from the town centre. When construction is complete, an upgrade of the town centre and ‘main street’ will be undertaken.

There are a number of recreation spaces available to the community including Memorial Park and Rotary Park. Gloucester Park is home to many of the local sporting clubs and there are other facilities such as a golf club and bowls club where visitors are welcome. Known for quality wines produced in the region the area also has an abundance of restaurants, cafes and boutique breweries serving fresh produce and local and international cuisine in picturesque locations. The Margaret River Wine Region Festival is held annually in April to showcase local wines and enable visitors to experience the unique and attractive lifestyle of the region, its food, wine, arts and crafts, and natural attractions. The Margaret River Town Square Markets (Sundays) and the Margaret River Farmer’s Market (Saturdays) offer a selection of the best in local produce from the area. The markets provide a vibrant setting to experience and purchase the produce of the region showcased by local producers.

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1.8 Augusta The town of Augusta is located approximately 310 kilometres south of Perth and 42 kilometres south of Margaret River and is the most southwesterly town in Australia. It is located at the mouth of the Blackwood River on the shores of Hardy Inlet and Flinders Bay. The town is one of Western Australia’s oldest permanent settlements (1830s) and is a popular holiday destination for swimming, surfing, fishing, diving, and boating, as well as scenic trips to discover wildlife such as whales, dolphins, seals, and pelicans. During the 1880s an expansion of the timber industry occurred following the construction of a timber mill at nearby Kudardup and the completion of jetties at Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay. Augusta was a stopping place on the Busselton to Flinders Bay Railway, which was government run from the 1920s to the 1950s. Prior to that, MC Davies had a timber railway system that went to both Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay jetties in the 1890s. The new $36 million Augusta Boat Harbour was officially opened in November 2014 after three years of construction. This landmark facility provides commercial and recreational users with appropriate infrastructure to service the region's tourism and commercial fleet, and serves as a regional base for sea search and rescue operations. Significant new development is planned for the Harbour, including the base for the Augusta Ocean Grown Abalone enterprise. Augusta comprises over 1,000 dwellings and had a population of approximately 1,400 in 2016. Kudardup is a village located about 8km north of Augusta on the Bussell Highway. Karridale is a small village located 14km north of Augusta and 28km south of Margaret River, and is named for the Karri forest in which it is situated.

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1.9 Cowaramup Cowaramup is located approximately ten kilometres north of Margaret River on Bussell Highway. The name Cowaramup derives its name from Cowaramup Siding on the now disused Busselton-Augusta railway. The locality got its name from the Wardandi word for the Purple Crowned Lorikeet ‘Cowara’. Cowaramup is a thriving village of some 1,500 persons and an important focus for the surrounding rural district that is fast becoming a recognised gateway to the Margaret River area. Cowaramup is located in vineyard and dairying areas in the north of the Shire with the majority of vineyard development occurring west of the town. Agriculture and dairying play significant roles in the area, but arts and crafts in the form of fine woodcraft, pottery, painting and sculpture exist around the area. The village of Cowaramup was established during the group settlement era of the 1920’s. It became a service centre for the emerging agricultural industry with the railway providing an important social and commercial link to other areas. Cowaramup is supported by a range of community land uses including:

 Primary school with single classes for each year 1-7  Pre-school, day care with new facilities and playgroup  Hall, community centre, tennis courts and recreation grounds and ovals  Church, CWA halls and restrooms  Community club and bowling greens  Landscaped parklands. In 1998 the town was identified as an important part of the settlement hierarchy of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Region, with potential to become a village of around 2,000 persons with surrounding small enclaves (Source: Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge State Planning Policy).

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1.10 Witchcliffe Witchcliffe village is located about eight kilometres south of Margaret River on Bussell Highway and had a population of around 100 in 2016. It is a quaint village, full of old world charm with a number of unique gift stores and buildings that date back to early settlement times. Significant residential growth is planned pursuant to the endorsed Witchcliffe Village Strategy 2012. The village has a significant timber history – the East Witchcliffe Mill began operations in 1924 and was taken over by the Adelaide Timber Company in 1930. During the group settlement period the village boomed, with a significant number of buildings erected and a stable and growing population financed by the timber industry. A train line also existed to take passengers to Margaret River and Busselton. The picturesque Redgate Beach is located ten minutes west on the coast and offers some of the best beach and surfing conditions south of Margaret River.

1.11 Prevelly/Gnarabup

Prevelly is a coastal residential area located around 9km west of Margaret River on the coast. Its location is near the meeting of the Margaret River and the Indian Ocean providing views of the sea and coastline. International surfers meet at the point (Main Break) for a number of annual professional surf contests. The Gnarabup subdivision is located immediately to the south of Prevelly. The population of these localities in 2016 was approximately 660 with around 400 dwellings.

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1.12 Gracetown Gracetown is coastal village located on Cowaramup Bay about twelve kilometres west of Cowaramup and sixteen kilometres north-west of Margaret River. Cowaramup Bay offers shelter from strong summer winds and is a popular holiday destination and surfing location. North Point, South Point and nearby Lefthanders provide excellent surfing for all skill levels while Huzzas is located inside the bay and provides more sheltered conditions for younger surfers. Good snorkelling, swimming, diving and fishing are available within the protected bay with its reefs, limestone cliffs and calmer swimming areas. The settlement was named in honour of the local Western Australian heroine, Grace Bussell. It was initially used as a holiday area and later in 1957 it was proposed that the site should be developed as a camping and caravan park. Instead the State Government decided that the area would be developed as a townsite. The area was surveyed in 1961 and the sale of lots occurred in 1963. Gracetown had approximately 152 dwellings in 2012, many of which are holiday homes and there did not appear to be any vacant residential lots. Cultural facilities include tennis and basketball courts and hall. A residential development of approximately 140 additional lots is likely to be developed by ‘LandCorp’ when the relevant planning and other issues have been resolved. The ‘Cape to Cape’ track runs across the beach to the west and Gracetown is one of the few settlements located along the track. A general store in Bayview Drive provides a variety of goods and services.

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2.0 Regional Overview

2.1 The South West Region The South West of Western Australia comprises an area of approximately 24,000 square kilometres. In 2016 the region had an estimated resident population of approximately 176,000 in twelve local government areas. The population of the Bay/Capes region (lower south west region incorporating Bunbury, Capel, Busselton and Augusta Margaret River LGAs) was over 102,500 in 2016 according to the ABS. The South West is known for its biodiversity, attractive beaches, rugged coastlines, native forests and rural landscapes. The South West is one of only thirty-four international Biodiversity Hotspots as recognised by ‘Conservation International’, and contains around 8,000 different plant species. Figure 4 South West Region

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The 2016 Census indicated that the median age was 41 and that the indigenous people of the South West represent approximately 2.3 per cent of the regional population, in comparison to a median age of 39 in the Shire, and 1.4% indigenous people (up from 1% in 2011) in the Shire. The South West continues to be the State's fastest-growing region, increasing by 10% between 2011 and 2016. The South West has featured in the top five growing regions nationally over the last ten years and is expected to grow to 216,000 people by 2027 according to projections published by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Most of this growth is forecast to occur along the coastal strip between Australind and Margaret River. Table 1 indicates the population of the South West between 2001 and 2016 along with average annual growth rates between 2011 and 2016. Table 1

Resident Population – South West WA

Av. annual Local Gov. Area 2001 2006 2011 2016 growth rate 2011-16

Augusta Marg. River 10,228 11,052 12,228 14,687 3.7%

Boyup Brook 1,648 1,563 1,617 1,709 1.1%

Bridgetown-Grnbushes 4,205 4,134 4,421 4,661 1.1%

Bunbury 30,616 31,450 32,580 32,684 0.6%

Busselton 23,192 26,711 31,523 37,673 3.6%

Capel 7,136 10,666 15,059 17,519 3.1%

Collie 9,109 9,012 9,343 8,901 -1.0%

Dardanup 8,991 10,837 12,852 14,390 2.3%

Donnybrook-Balingup 4,701 4,951 5,462 5,930 1.7%

Harvey 18,526 20,450 23,878 27,029 2.5%

Manjimup 10,350 9,718 9,463 9,375 -0.2%

Nannup 1,223 1,282 1,304 1,346 0.6%

South West Region 129,925 141,826 159,730 175,904 2.0%

Source: Regional Population Growth 2016, ABS 2017. While supporting a vibrant tourism industry, the South West also supports a diverse agricultural sector including meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, timber and viticulture. The mineral sand mining industry also contributes significantly to the regional economy. Urban development is being driven by natural growth, migration and ‘fly-in/fly-out’ workers who are now choosing to live in the region. The housing construction industry is tasked with accommodating average annual population growth of 2% across the region. The strong regional economy has benefited from balanced industry sectors including mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, wine and tourism.

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2.2 Electoral Districts The Shire is located within the Commonwealth electoral division of Forrest. In 2015, the Shire was included in the Vasse and Warren-Blackwood State Electoral Districts. The northern part of the Shire including Cowaramup is in the Vasse District and the remainder including Margaret River is in the Warren-Blackwood District. Figure 5 South West Electoral Districts 2015 Vasse

Warren Blackwood

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3.0 History

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River and surrounding areas between Augusta and Bunbury are the traditional lands of the Noongar people known as the Wardandi, the people who live by the ocean and follow the forest paths. Prior to European settlement, the Shire had been occupied by Aboriginal communities for at least 40,000 years, as evidence from the Devil’s Lair site has shown. Numerous sites still exist and remain important but their locations often remain confidential because of their spiritual and cultural significance and to prevent damage by unauthorised visitors. The Shire was also one of the first areas settled by Europeans in Western Australia over 180 years ago. There are many archaeological and historical places of cultural heritage significance in the Shire. It is important that conservation of aesthetic, historical, scientific and social values of heritage places be encouraged and undertaken in order that future generations may understand and enjoy these places. In May 1830 Governor Stirling led a party of settlers on board the "Emily Taylor" to the mouth of a river and inlet reported by sealers. Exploring the river, Stirling named it the Blackwood, after Vice Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood under whom he had served. Stirling also declared a townsite at the mouth of the river, naming it Augusta in honour of Princess Augusta Sophia, second daughter of King George IV. The town of Margaret River is named after the river, which was named after Margaret Whicher, a step-cousin of John Garrett Bussell (founder of Busselton) in 1831. The name is first shown on a map of the region published in 1839. European migrants lived in the area as early as 1850, with timber logging commencing around 1870. By 1910 the site had been declared a townsite and had a hotel which also operated as the post office. The Bussells were a prominent pioneer family and it was Alfred Bussell who chose a traditional Noongar camping area known as Mokidup to build the first homestead in the area in 1857, Ellensbrook. The first Europeans in the area originally settled the coastal area around Augusta in the 1830's but became disgruntled with the harsh terrain. They searched for more fertile land further north eventually settling in the Margaret River area.

TW Peake's Cash Stores, Cowaramup in the 1920s

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In the 1850s a party of convicts was used to cut the first Jarrah timber for export from Augusta. The work was slow due to difficulties with the timber and transport and no profit was made. During the late 1860's timber cutting became more profitable as transport methods improved. On 1st December 1876, Sam Isaacs and the Bussells’ daughter, Grace, became heroes when they rescued passengers from the ship Georgette after it ran aground off Margaret River. Both Sam and Grace rode their horses into the water, grabbing as many survivors as they could. With the very rough seas, the rescue took four hours. In recognition of his services, Sam Isaacs received a Bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society. Much later, in 1897, he received a reward of 100 acres of land on the Margaret River. After World War I, an attempt by the Government to attract migrants to Western Australia and establish farms in the region (known as the Group Settlement Scheme) attracted new settlers to the town and in 1922 over 100 settlers moved into the district.

Settlers Group 2, 1923

In the early 1920s the Busselton to Margaret River Railway was built and in 1925 it was extended to Flinders Bay (Augusta). The railway was built to open up the area and to assist with agriculture and timber transport. Today, several of the old railway lines have become part of the Rails to Trails, a recreation trail for walkers, bike riders and horse riders. During the twentieth century, the region established itself as a thriving agricultural area through beef, dairy and sheep farming. In the 1970s and 1980s the wine industry was developed and quickly became one of the region’s valuable assets. Even though vines had been grown in the Margaret River region by migrant settlers as early as the late 1800s, it wasn't until the late 1960s that the region began to develop into a commercial market. In 1965, Dr John Gladstone wrote a report, following the decline of the wine industry in the Swan Valley, suggesting that the cooler climate of the State's south- west region should be considered for growing vines. In 1966 the first vines were planted as a trial and Dr Tom Cullity established the ‘Vasse Felix’ vineyard. In 1971 Vasse Felix won its first award and the following year released its first commercial wine. In 1891, the Augusta Road Board was gazetted, and was renamed Augusta Margaret River Road Board in 1926. On 1 July 1961, the Augusta Margaret River Road Board became the Shire of Augusta Margaret River following changes to the Local Government Act. The Shire office was located in Townview Terrace until 2012 when a new, award-winning administration centre was constructed in Wallcliffe Road.

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4.0 Demography

4.1 Resident Population The estimated resident population of the Shire was 14,687 in 2016 according to ABS, an increase of 20% over the 2011 population. The average annual growth rate between 2011 and 2016 was 3.7%. Table 2 summarises the estimated permanent resident population change between 1991 and 2016, with an average annual growth rate between 1991 and 2016 of 3.5%. Table 2

Estimated Resident Population 1991-2016

1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016

Shire of AMR 6,218 8,106 10,228 11,052 12,228 14,687

Change - 1,888 2,122 824 1,176 2,030

Inter-census average - 5.4% 4.8% 1.6% 2% 3.7% annual growth rate

Average annual 3.5% growth rate 1991-2016 Source: ABS Regional Population Growth and 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Figure 6 Shire of Augusta Margaret River Population Growth 1991- 2016

Source: ABS and Shire of Augusta Margaret River

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It should be noted that the resident population estimate may be affected by the count of ‘fly- in, fly-out’ (FIFO) workers who live in the Shire but may spend more than six months in any one year working away. ‘Usual residence’ is defined in the Census as the place at which a person has lived or intends to live for six months or more, therefore many FIFO workers may not be counted as residents, notwithstanding that their home is in the Shire. In 2016, 50% of residents in the Shire were male and 50% female compared to the figures for Australia of 49.3% male and 50.7% female. The Census also indicated that 1.4% of residents in the Shire were indigenous persons, compared with 2.8% in Australia. Table 3 includes estimates of the population of selected localities in the Shire for 2006, 2011 and 2016. The estimates are derived from ABS Census data for state suburbs or statistical areas, as ERP data is not available for all specific urban localities. Plans of each locality are included in the Appendices. Table 3

Estimated Resident Population of Localities

2006 2011 2016

Augusta 1,150 1,300 1,420

Margaret River 5,250 5,900 7,000

Cowaramup 620 820 1,540

Prevelly/Gnarabup 525 550 660

Other areas/rural 3,507 3,658 4,067

Shire 11,052 12,228 14,687

Source: Regional Population Growth, ABS 2017 and Shire of AMR.

Note: The boundaries of statistical areas have changed slightly for the 2016 Census due to factors such as a change in statistical geography and increasing population. Accordingly, the boundaries of localities may not be directly comparable between 2006, 2011 and 2016.

4.2 Age Profile The median age in the Shire was 39 in 2016 compared to 36 in Western Australia and 38 in Australia. Table 4 indicates that the median age increased significantly from 32 in 1991 to 39 in 2016. Table 4

Median Age 1991-2016

1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016

32 33 35 37 39 39 Source: ABS Census data.

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Table 5 indicates the age distribution of the 2016 resident population across ten age groups and compares the Shire with Australia. The Shire’s population has higher proportions of children and lower proportions of young adults. It is likely that Cowaramup and Margaret River contribute significantly to the higher proportion of children in the Shire (25.3% compared to 22.2% for Australia) in view of their attraction to younger families. The proportion of pre-school and school age children in the Shire is higher than in Australia. The proportion of adults aged 25-69 is also higher in the Shire. The Shire has a much lower proportion of young adults aged 18 to 34 (16.8%, compared to 23.6% in Australia). Table 5

Age Distribution 2016 Age group

0-4 5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-59 60-69 70-84 85+

Shire of 1,027 1,490 1,085 638 1,756 3,400 1,885 1,684 1,074 225 AMR 7.2% 10.5% 7.6% 4.5% 12.3% 23.8% 13.2% 11.8% 7.5% 1.6%

Australia 6.3% 8.8% 7.1% 9.2% 14.4% 20.3% 12.7% 10.7% 8.6% 2.1%

Source: ABS 2016 Census of Population and Housing.

Note: Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.

Table 6 indicates broader age profiles for selected localities in the Shire. This table attempts to reflect generational cohorts i.e. children and youth, adults (aged less than 50 years), middle-aged adults (aged 50-64 years) and senior adults aged 65 years or over. It is notable that the median age of residents in Margaret River and Cowaramup is less than the national and State medians while the median age of Augusta is 59, with almost two thirds of Augusta residents aged over 50. Table 6

Generational Profile of Localities 2016

Age group

Median Children/Youth Adults Middle-age Seniors

Age 0-19 20-49 50-64 65+

Margaret River 36 28.4% 44.0% 17.1% 10.3%

Cowaramup 37 32.2% 42.3% 16.0% 9.5%

Augusta 59 13.8% 22.2% 25.8% 38.2%

Shire of AMR 39 26.6% 39.1% 19.8% 14.4% Source: ABS 2016 Census data

Note: percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

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Figure 7 below illustrates the proportional age structure of the Margaret River locality, the Shire and Australia according to 2016 Census data. The comparison highlights the differences between the Shire and Australia in terms of children and younger adults. Figure 7 Age Structure 2016

10% Margaret River 9% AMR Shire 8% Australia 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 0-4 5-9 85+ 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 10-14 Age

The differences in the Shire’s age structure from 1996 to 2016 indicated in Figure 8 demonstrates significant ageing of the Shire’s population over time. Figure 8 Shire of Augusta Margaret River Age Structure 1996-2016

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4.3 Cultural Diversity Table 7 indicates that 70% of Shire residents stated that they were born in Australia while 7.6% were born in England and 3% in New Zealand. In relation to the residents of Australia, 67% born in Australia, 4% in England and 2.2% in New Zealand. Table 7

Country of Birth 2016

Persons in the Persons in Persons Country of Birth Shire of AMR WA in Australia

Australia 69.6% 60.3% 66.7%

England 7.6% 7.8% 3.9%

New Zealand 3.0% 3.2% 2.2%

Germany 0.8% 0.4% 0.4%

South Africa 1.0% 1.7% 0.7% Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Tables 8 indicates that 26% of persons in the Shire had both parents born overseas while 49% had both parents born in Australia. Table 9 indicates that 85% of Shire residents indicate that English only is spoken at home. Table 8

Birthplace of Parents 2016

Persons in the Persons in Persons in Shire of AMR WA Australia

Both parents born overseas 26% 40.5% 34.4%

Father only born overseas 8.9% 7.5% 6.4%

Mother only born overseas 7.5% 5.8% 4.7%

Both parents born in 48.8% 38.3% 47.3% Australia Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

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Table 9

Languages spoken at home 2016

Persons in the Persons in Persons in

Shire of AMR WA Australia

English only spoken at home 85.3% 75.2% 72.7%

German 0.8% 0.4% 0.3%

Italian 0.5% 1.2% 1.2%

French 0.6% 0.4% 0.3%

Mandarin 0.5% 1.9% 2.5% Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing Table 10 indicates that 48% of Shire residents indicate that they do not follow a religion while 14.5% are Anglicans and 13.5% Catholic. Table 10

Religious Affiliation 2016

Persons in the Persons in Persons in Shire of AMR WA Australia

No religion 48% 32.5% 29.6%

Catholic 13.5% 21.4% 22.6%

Anglican 14.5% 14.3% 13.3%

Uniting Church 2.6% 2.3% 3.7%

Not stated 11.5% 10.3% 9.6% Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

4.4 Labour Force, Income and Education Table 11 indicates that the median household income of the Shire was $1,285 in 2016, slightly lower than Australia’s median household income of $1,438. Table 11

Income, 2016 (persons aged 15 years and over)

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Median personal income/week $671 $724 $662

Median household $1,285 $1,595 $1,438 income/week

Median family income/week $1,524 $1,910 $1,734 Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

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According to Table 12, the Shire had greater labour force participation than Australia in 2016, but less of the labour force employed full time. Accordingly, the proportions of part time employees are higher in the Shire and it has a lower unemployment rate. Table 12

Labour Force, 2016 (persons aged 15 years and over)

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Labour force participation (as 64.8% 62.9% 60.3% a percentage of persons aged over 15)

Employed full-time 48.4% 57% 57.7% as a % Employed part-time 39.3% 30% 30.4% of the labour Away from work force 7.6% 5.2% 5% Unemployed 4.6% 7.8% 6.9%

Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Table 13 indicates that the Shire had a very high percentage of managers, technicians, tradespeople and labourers in 2011 compared to Australia, possibly reflecting the construction, farming and other industries in the Shire. The Shire also has lower proportions of administration workers and professionals compared to the Australian population. Table 13

Occupation, 2011 (employed persons aged 15 years and over)

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Technicians/trades 17.2% 16.2% 13.5% workers

Labourers 14.4% 9.7% 9.5%

Machinery operators 5.2% 7.5% 6.3%

Professionals 15.9% 20.5% 22.2%

Managers 16.9% 12% 13%

Admin. workers 9.1% 13% 13.6%

Sales workers 9.3% 8.8% 9.4%

Community/personal 10.8% 10.6% 10.8% service workers

Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

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Table 14 indicates that the Shire comprises lower proportions of people attending University or other tertiary institution compared to Australia. Only 5.2% of residents attending an educational institution in 2016 attended a university or equivalent, compared to 16% in Australia. Table 14

Type of Educational Institution Attended, 2016 (proportion of persons attending an educational institution)

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Infants/Primary 35.8% 31.3% 31.5%

Secondary 21.1% 20.4% 20.1%

TAFE 5.6% 6.1% 5.9%

University 5.2% 13.9 16.1%

Other 1.5% 2.4% 2.8%

Not stated 30.7% 25.8% 23.7% Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

4.5 Dwellings and Households Table 15 indicates the number of private dwellings in selected localities in 2016 and highlights the percentage of unoccupied dwellings. It is notable that 43% of dwellings in Augusta and 29% in the Shire as a whole were vacant in 2016. Table 15

Dwellings Estimate 2016

All Dwellings Unoccupied dwellings 2016 (excluding non- 2016 classifiable households)

Margaret River 3,180 20.1%

Augusta 1,130 43.4%

Cowaramup 600 16.6%

Prevelly/Gnarabup 400 41%

Shire 7,740 29.2% Source: Shire of Augusta Margaret River and ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Since 2011 the number of dwelling permits issued has increased significantly. In these five years over 1,000 dwelling permits have been issued in the Shire, including 308 in 2014/15. The ABS indicates that the number of private dwellings increased from 6,810 in 2011 to 7,740 in 2016.

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Table 16 provides a comparison of housing tenure between the Shire, Western Australia and Australia. This indicates that the Shire has a similar proportion of dwellings owned outright and higher proportions that are owned with a mortgage compared to Australia. Table 16

Housing Tenure 2016

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Owned outright 31.0% 28.5% 31.0%

Owned with a mortgage 36.8% 39.7% 34.5%

Rented 29.0% 28.3% 30.9%

Not stated 1.8% 2.4% 2.7% Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2016

Table 17 confirms that the Shire has a higher proportion of couple families without children and a slightly lower proportion of couple families with children in comparison to WA and Australia. The Shire also has a lower proportion of one parent families. Table 17

Family Characteristics, 2016

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Couple families with children 1,604 (43.2%) 45.3% 44.7%

Couple families without 1,569 (42.2%) 38.5% 37.8% children

One parent families 521 (14%) 14.5% 15.8% Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2016

Table 18 indicates that the Shire has higher proportions of family households compared to Australia with lower proportions of single person and group households. Table 18

Household Composition,2016

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Family household 3,678 (72.9%) 72.7% 71.3%

Single person household 1,179 (23.4%) 23.6% 24.4%

Group household 186 (3.7%) 3.8% 4.3%

Average household size 2.5 persons 2.6 2.6 persons Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2016

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4.6 Demographic Comparison Table 19 provides a comparison of selected demographic statistics between 2011 and 2016. This highlights some of the changes that have occurred in those five years in relation to population, dwellings and households. For example, the median household income increased from $1,096 to $1,285 per week, while the median weekly rent increased from $260 to $300. The proportion of persons aged 65 or increased from 12.5% to 14.4%, while the proportion of persons aged 0-19 remained stable. It appears that the proportion of single parent families increased from 13.5% to 14% while the proportion of those separated or divorced remained stable. Table 19

Comparison of Selected Demography 2011-2016

Shire of AMR 2011 2016

Population (ERP) 12,228 14,687

Median age 39 39

Persons aged 0-19 3,119 (26.5%) 3,801 (26.6%)

Persons aged 20-64 7,176 (61.0%) 8,407 (58.9%)

Persons aged 65 or over 1,466 (12.5%) 2,049 (14.4%)

Married (persons aged 15+) 4,635 (49.9%) 5,532 (49.6%)

Separated/Divorced (persons aged 1,144 (12.3%) 1,380 (12.3%) 15+)

Never married 3,129 (33.7%) 3,799 (34.1%) (persons aged 15+)

Dwellings 6,810 7,740

Dwellings owned outright 1,303 (30.9%) 1,566 (31%)

Dwellings mortgaged 1,378 (32.7%) 1,859 (36.8%)

Dwellings rented 1,390 (33%) 1,466 (29%)

Median monthly mortgage $1,733 $1,733

Median weekly rent $260 $300 (15% increase)

Households

Median weekly household income $1,096 $1,285 (17% increase)

Family households 3,053 (72.5%) 3,678 (72.9%)

Couple families + children 1,325 (43.1%) 1,604 (43.2%)

One parent families 416 (13.5%) 521 (14%) Source: ABS, 2011 and 2016 Census of Population and Housing

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Table 20 indicates that internet connectivity to dwellings in the Shire and Western Australia is slightly higher than in Australia. Table 20

Dwelling Internet Connection 2016

Shire of AMR Persons in WA Australia

Internet accessed from dwelling 4,293 (85.1%) 85.1% 83.2%

Internet not accessed from 654 (13%) 12.5% 14.1% dwelling

Not stated 98 (1.9%) 2.4% 2.7% Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

4.7 Population Projections Table 21 summarises Shire population projections prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing by the ABS in 2008, and by the WA Planning Commission in 2015. These projections indicate that the population of the Shire could increase to over 17,000 by 2026. Table 21

Population Projections – Shire of Augusta Margaret River

2011 2016 2021 2026

Dept of Health & Ageing 1 12,820 14,218 15,637 17,040

WA Tomorrow 2015 2 12,230 13,950 15,280 16,500

Sources:

1. Customised projections prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing by the ABS. The projections are not official ABS data.

2. Band ‘C’ (median) projections. Western Australia Tomorrow, WAPC 2015.

Although it is difficult to project population change in growth areas over strategic time frames, it is clear that the growth of the Shire over the next fifteen years will be significant in view of the anticipated urban development outcomes highlighted in the Local Planning Strategy and adopted townsite strategies. Following the 2011 census, it was assumed that Shire growth could be based on a doubling of the population of the town of Margaret River by 2031 as a consequence of urban development anticipated by the Regional Centres Development Plan. This target was somewhat aspirational and has since been reviewed.

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Assuming that the population of Margaret River will grow at a higher rate than the remainder of the Shire between 2016 and 2031 (around 2.2% average) and that the remainder of the Shire will increase at an average annual growth rate of around 1.2%, it is currently anticipated that the Shire will reach a population of approximately 19,000 by 2031 at an average annual growth rate of 1.7%. The projections are included in Table 22 and Figure 9 below. Table 22

Population Projections 2016-2031

2016 2021 2026 2031

Margaret River 7,400 8,400 9,400 10,250

Remainder of Shire 7,287 7,700 8,100 8,750

Shire of Augusta MR 14,687 16,100 17,500 19,000

Average annual growth rate 1.7%

Source: Shire of Augusta Margaret River

Figure 9 Shire of Augusta Margaret River Population Projections

20000

19000 Dept Health Projections

18000 Shire Projections

17000 WAPC Projections

16000

15000

14000

13000

12000

11000 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031

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5.0 Community and Culture

5.1 Indigenous The Margaret River area is within the traditional lands of the Wardandi people. The Wardandi are the traditional custodians of the area generally between Bunbury and Cape Leeuwin and have a strong connection to the sea. In 2016 the Shire had approximately 195 Indigenous persons, comprising approximately 1.4% of the Shire’s residents (compared with 2.8% in Australia). A number of Aboriginal heritage sites have been identified in the Shire including burial sites, artefact finds and scarred trees. Devil’s Lair cave, south of Margaret River, is one of the earliest sites of human occupation in Australia. Evidence of Noongar existence dates back about 48,000 years1. Places that hold meaning and significance can include: . where Aboriginal people have camped, lived or moved through; . places associated with Dreaming stories depicting the law of the land and how people should behave; . places associated with spirituality; . places where other cultures came into contact with Indigenous people; and that are significant for more contemporary uses.

Aboriginal sites are a precious part of the heritage of the whole community as they are of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest, and provide an important link to the culture and heritage of Indigenous people. The Wardandi people have developed the Wardan Aboriginal Centre in Yallingup to the north of the Shire as a place where they can share their culture with visitors, school groups and Aboriginal people from other areas. The Centre is part of a community effort to increase understanding and reconciliation in the wider community. 5.2 Post European Many local families have descendants who have been in the Shire since European settlement in the 1830s. People continue to migrate to the Shire, attracted by rural and alternative lifestyle opportunities and the stunning environment. The Shire has an active sporting and cultural background. There are many recreation, arts and community groups offering a diverse range of activities reflecting both heritage and contemporary themes. The Shire’s community has a strong tradition of self-reliance which is reflected in the wide range of community activities undertaken within the Shire. Volunteer groups, sporting clubs, farmers’ markets and other community enterprises including the arts and cultural movements are important elements recognised by the Shire in planning for the provision of community facilities.

1 Dortch, C. 1979. Devil's Lair, an Example of Prolonged Cave Use in South-Western Australia. World Archaeology10(3):258-279 located at South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council https://www.noongarculture.org.au/

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5.3 Recreation and Cultural Activities The Shire provides a wide range of community facilities throughout the area including community halls, museums, libraries, public open space, public amenities such as toilets, and foreshore infrastructure such as boat ramps and jetties. The Shire has opportunities for all ages to participate in sport and recreation and strategies are being formulated to ensure that facilities are available to service the growing population. Sporting activities in the Shire are centred on popular ball sports and informal recreation such as bush walking, fishing, surfing and swimming at the beach. There are a number of formal recreation areas in the Shire including Gloucester Park and the Recreation and Aquatic Centre. Active sports clubs include: AFL (senior and junior) Soccer (senior and junior) Cricket (senior and junior) Softball, Tee-ball Hockey (senior and junior) Netball Basketball Boardriders Equestrian and polocrosse Lawn bowls Golf Clubs Tennis

Community/cultural organisations active in the Shire include: Agricultural Society Arts groups Augusta Community Development Association Chamber of Commerce and Industry Country Women’s Association Garden clubs Land Conservation District Committee Meals on Wheels Men’s Shed Music groups Playgroups Progress/home owners associations Returned and Services League Scouts and Girl Guides Senior citizens Service Clubs Theatre/drama groups Youth Advisory Council

The Margaret River Cultural Centre in Wallcliffe Road is to undergo a major refurbishment and extension of the hospitality area that will include the creation of a new accessible entrance to the theatre, improved bar facilities and a more functional commercial kitchen. The refurbishment is one component of a larger planned upgrade known as the HEART Project - Hub of Entertainment, Arts and Regional Tourism.

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5.4 Parks There are a range of parks in the Shire that allow residents and visitors to make the most of the region’s scenic locations. Many of the district's beaches feature parking areas with facilities including playground equipment, barbecues, chairs and tables and shaded areas. Gloucester Park is located on Wallcliffe Road, adjacent to the Shire’s Administration Centre and the Recreation Centre, and is a focus for outdoor sports with three ovals, cricket pitch and hockey field attracting district wide competition and housing large scale events. The football, tennis and bowling clubs are all located within this Park as illustrated in Figure 10. A new oval (lower western oval) is to be constructed on vacant open space in the west of the Park to provide additional playing field capacity for rugby and soccer. Figure 10 Gloucester Park

Margaret River Recreation and Aquatic Centre in Wallcliffe Road includes an indoor 25 metre pool, a lagoon pool, air conditioned gym, multipurpose courts, squash courts, child care and a kiosk/cafe. There is also a childcare facility on site offering crèche, before and after school care and vacation care Margaret River Skate Park is located on Wallcliffe Road as part of Gloucester Park and has a half pipe with extension, a bowl, wave ramp, ¼ pipe, fun box and numerous roll-ins and hips. The park also has great lighting that is available several nights each week. Memorial Park is located in the centre of Margaret River and is a popular rest area. The Park has play equipment, is the site of the war memorial and venue for the Anzac Day, Vietnam Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day services. The Park is dominated by a large oak tree planted to commemorate the crowning of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

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Reuther Park is situated at the southern end of the main street of Margaret River and provides a shady respite from the walk up the hill as well as public art by local artists. Reuther Park

Rotary Park Rotary Park is a riverside park (adjacent to the Margaret River) with excellent picnic and barbecue facilities, shaded areas, playground equipment, toilet facilities and an information board. Many of the areas heritage trails start from this park. Rapid’s Landing is to be provided with new shared playing fields in conjunction with the Rapid’s Landing Primary School which opens in 2018. Pioneer Park in Cowaramup is the home of several public art sculptures depicting thirty years of the dairy and viticulture industries and paying homage to the natural environment. There is also a staged amphitheatre, hosting free family concerns throughout summer.

Augusta Civic Park in Allnutt Terrace features ovals, croquet, bowling, tennis courts and a par three golf course. The Rural Transaction Centre, Civic centre, hydrotherapy pool and library are also located on this site. Augusta Skate Park is a small and compact facility featuring a half pipe, several rails, a bowl and roll-in as well as a shelter and toilets. Beaches - the Shire is home to some of Western Australia’s most scenic beaches and many popular surf breaks. The coastline stretches from north of Cowaramup Bay south to Cape Leeuwin and east to the Shire of Nannup (around 130 kilometres). A Lifeguard Service is provided at River-mouth Beach in Prevelly from December to April. The Department of Environment and Conservation manages most of the beaches as well as the Leeuwin- Naturaliste and Scott River National Parks.

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5.5 Education There are a number of schools in the Shire including public primary schools in Cowaramup, Augusta and Margaret River, St Thomas Moore Catholic Primary School in Margaret River and Margaret River Independent School in Forest Grove. A new primary school is scheduled to open in Rapids Landing in 2018. This school will be located in close proximity to residential subdivisions at Brookfield, Rapids Landing, Margaret Fields and Riverslea, and will include new, shared playing fields.

Margaret River Senior High School was opened in 1955 and provides secondary education to over 1,000 students from Years 7 to 12. The Margaret River Education Campus opened in 2004 and is located in the centre of Margaret River. It is a collaborative initiative between the South West Regional College of TAFE, Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Margaret River Senior High School and the Department of Education and Training. The campus provides a range of learning opportunities and education pathways that enable students to cross seamlessly between secondary, vocational and tertiary learning. The Campus is also the location of The Creative Corner, an arts and cultural hub offering space for emerging artists with flexible hire arrangements of hot desks for people who need a space to work, collaborate and build connections.

Margaret River Education Campus

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6.0 The Economy

The Shire’s economy is dominated by viticulture, agriculture and tourism-related economic activity, which is reflected in the region’s export profile. These industry sectors play a critical role in establishing, maintaining and reinforcing the Shire’s national and international profile. They also support strong residential construction and real estate activity within the Shire.

6.1 Agriculture Agriculture/primary production is a major contributor to the local economy with a total contribution of over $300 million within the ‘Capes’ region. Secondary production, mainly wine, contributes a further $450 million a year within the region. This equates to a contribution of around 30% of employment opportunities within the Shire, second only to the service industry. These figures reflect a trend over the last 20 years of an increase in importance of the service and retail industries and some fluctuations within agriculture, especially dairy farming. The impacts of climate change, the increasing demand for surface water due to the expansion of agriculture, particularly viticulture, and the pressure to retain the high biodiversity value of the area are some of the drivers which have lead the Department of Water to proclaim surface water resources which may in the future limit the capacity for more intensive agriculture. In order to protect the land value structure of agricultural land and to ensure that it either remains in production or is available for a wide range of agricultural uses, present land holdings and lot sizes should generally remain stable, as there is currently a wide variety of lot sizes in the Shire to accommodate either broad acre or more intensive forms of agricultural production. Declining farmer numbers and labour sources at peak harvest times are beginning to impact on agricultural production in the region. Competition for water resources resulting from increased water needs and recent declining rainfall are also significant issues for agriculture. Land use changes and urban expansion is leading to alienation of prime agricultural land, primarily due to ongoing urban development or the need for buffers to non-rural land uses. Grazing Livestock are grazed in the Shire for meat products. The South West region is Western Australia's leading supplier of beef cattle. Live cattle are exported to the European Union, Asia and the Middle East. Dairy industry The local dairy industry features prominently in Western Australia’s history. Milk from the South West is primarily processed as fluid milk for the domestic market in a number of South West dairy plants. Some branded dairy products are also produced including a variety of milk products, traditional butter, cheese, yoghurt, skim milk and whey powder. In 2010-11, the South West accounted for around 89 per cent of the total value of West Australian milk production. Milk from the region is primarily processed as fluid milk for the domestic market. A small manufacturing industry processes surplus milk into butter, cheese,

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dried milk powder, cream, long life milk, yoghurts, desserts and other products for domestic and export markets. The South West is relatively isolated in agricultural terms, helping to ensure that the local dairy cows are disease free. This is a factor that is highly regarded by statutory agencies as well as being a distinct advantage in terms of international marketing. Fruit and vegetables Most vegetables grown in the region are sold to the Perth market, but increasingly a share is exported to South East Asia. Varieties include potatoes, carrots, broccoli, onions, cauliflowers, tomatoes, pumpkin, beans, lettuce, capsicum, chillies, zucchini and cabbage. Orchard fruits and grapes dominate fruit production in the region. Varieties include table and wine grapes, plums, prunes, pears, avocados, nectarines, peaches and berries. Viticulture The South West is the largest wine producing region in Western Australia and is considered a producer of premium wine. Wine regions include Margaret River, Pemberton, Blackwood Valley, Geographe and Manjimup. The Margaret River region has an essentially Mediterranean, maritime climate which is cooled and humidified by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Summers are dry but rainfall is usually significant during winter. Since the first significant planting of vines in 1967, the Margaret River Wine Region has grown to become a notable wine-producing region. Despite, or perhaps because of its youth when compared to centuries-old wine regions around the world, Margaret River has a vibrant and innovative wine industry that promotes progressive trends in viticulture and winemaking. Although the region contributes only 3 per cent of the country’s wine grapes it contributes 20 per cent of Australia’s premium wine market. Today there are over 5,000 hectares under vine and over 200 grape growers and wine producers in the region. Approximately two thirds of south west wine production originates from the Margaret River appellation. Viticulture production in the Margaret River region had an estimated value of $49 million in 2008, with 34,000 tonnes of grapes crushed. The Margaret River Wine Industry Association has a web page with more information ‘www.margaretriverwine.org.au’.

6.2 Tourism Margaret River is approximately 270 kilometres by road from Perth (around three hours) and is serviced by Busselton Margaret River Regional Airport which is just over 50 kilometres to the north. The region's mild climate and diverse natural attractions draw more domestic and international visitors than any other part of regional Western Australia. The South West has an extensive coastline with some of the best beaches in Australia, towering forests and established wine regions. The Shire has more than 100 kilometres of pristine coastline featuring attractive beaches and excellent fishing. Most of the district's beaches feature parking areas with facilities including playground equipment, barbecues, chairs and tables, taps, and shaded areas.

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Tourism plays a major role in the economy of the Shire and also contributes to the character of the area. The pristine coastline, forests, rural landscape and viticulture has contributed to significant growth in the tourism industry over the last twenty years. The tourism sector of the economy is very much related to the rural character, natural environment and pristine coastlines as tourists seek a nature based experience. Biodiversity, wilderness and unspoilt nature is an important component of tourism in the Shire. In addition to nature-based tourism, cultural tourism is becoming increasingly important. Tourism relating to wine and other agricultural products has played an important role in establishing an internationally renowned brand for Margaret River. Food tourism has strengthened the region’s position as an internationally recognised destination with visitors savouring gourmet produce, fresh seafood, premium wines and boutique beverages such as craft beers, ciders and spirits.

Hamelin Bay

By maintaining and enhancing the landscape and environmental values the Shire has become an icon of landscape and environmental sustainability. It is important that the greater demand in tourism and related land uses and activities be anticipated as far as possible and guidelines provided to ensure high quality development, with minimal visual or environmental impact. Wine growing, tasting and cellar doors are significant attractions for tourism in the region. With an international reputation as a producer of premium wines, unique opportunities for growth in wine tourism are emerging.

Karri Forest, Boranup

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Several hundred caves are located near Margaret River, all of them within Leeuwin- Naturaliste National Park. Six of these are open to the public. The multi-chambered Mammoth Cave was first discovered by European settlers in 1850. Other caves open to the public include Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Calgardup Cave, Ngilgi Cave and Giants Cave.

Surfer’s Point

Nature based holidays and eco-tourism are emerging as areas with significant potential for growth. New attractions e.g. recreation trails will become potentially significant future contributors to tourism. The Cape to Cape Track is a 135 kilometre walking trail along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and Indian Ocean coast. It features spectacular coastal and forest scenery, a fascinating landscape of beaches, cliffs, caves, headlands and rock formations and an ever-changing display of vegetation and wildflowers, including unique flora and fauna. Formally known as “Rails to Trails” the Wardandi Trail is open to walkers and cyclists. The Trail provides opportunities to experience the Margaret River region through its natural environment, Aboriginal heritage and the rich history of the industries and communities served by the former Busselton to Flinders Bay Railway. It is expected tourism will continue to develop as a major contributor to the region's economy as visitors are increasingly attracted to the unique South West lifestyle. Issues for tourism include provision of more caravan park sites, affordable holiday accommodation and roadside rest areas. Improved public transport and connections to Busselton Margaret River Regional Airport would also assist regional tourism outcomes in the long term.

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6.3 Commerce and Employment Margaret River is the administrative and commercial centre of the Shire however some commerce is conducted in Bunbury or Busselton due to their relative proximity and the availability of a wider range of services. Employment of Shire residents is dominated by the construction, manufacturing, retail trade and accommodation/food industries. Education, training, health care, agriculture and administration also employ significant numbers of residents. Table 23 below summarises employment characteristics of employed persons in the Shire in 2016. Table 23

Industry of Employment 2016 Count of employed persons 15 years and older

Employed Industry Proportion persons

Agriculture, forestry & fishing 606 8.8%

Mining 311 4.5%

Manufacturing 722 10.5%

Electricity, gas, water & waste services 50 0.7%

Construction 729 10.6%

Wholesale trade 108 1.6%

Retail trade 691 10.0%

Accommodation & food services 789 11.4%

Transport, postal & warehousing 134 1.9%

Information media & telecommunications 24 0.4%

Financial & insurance services 62 0.9%

Rental, hiring & real estate services 123 1.8%

Professional, scientific & technical services 259 3.8%

Administrative & support services 312 4.5%

Public administration & safety 211 3.1%

Education & training 583 8.5%

Health care & social assistance 529 7.7%

Arts & recreation services 114 1.7%

Other services 208 3.0%

Inadequately described/Not stated 313 4.5%

Total 6,892 100%

Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

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Table 24 highlights the number of businesses by industry in the Shire in 2016. Agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction have the most businesses following by real estate services, technical services and retail trade.

Table 24

Number of Businesses by Industry, 2016

Shire of Augusta Margaret River June 2016

Accommodation & Food Services 140

Administrative & Support Services 69

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 360

Arts & Recreation Services 26

Construction 381

Education & Training 13

Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste Services 6

Financial & Insurance Services 116

Health Care & Social Assistance 73

Information Media & Telecommunications 6

Manufacturing 106

Mining 9

Professional Scientific & Technical Services 150

Public Administration & Safety 0

Rental, Hiring, & Real Estate Services 164

Retail trade 129

Transport, Postal and Warehousing 51

Wholesale trade 45

Not classifiable 19

Other services 70 Source: ABS ‘databyregion’.

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Table 25 indicates that the number of businesses in the Shire decreased slightly from 1,832 in 2010 to 1,813 in 2015. Significantly, the number of businesses with 5 or more employees decreased by 44 between 2010 and 2015 according to ABS data.

Table 25

Number of businesses 2010-2015

Shire of Augusta Margaret River June 2010 June 2013 June 2015

Number of non-employing businesses 1,204 1,163 1,193

Number of businesses with 1-4 employees 355 401 391

No. of businesses with 5 or more employees 273 216 229

Total number of businesses 1,832 1,780 1,813 Source: ABS ‘databyregion’.

Table 26 includes some selected labour force, education and migration data which indicates a low unemployment rate of 4.6% in the Shire compared to 7.8% in Western Australia and 6.9% in Australia. The Shire’s labour force was over 7,200 persons.

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Table 26

Selected person characteristics 2016

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Males Females Persons

Residents aged 15 years and over 5,502 5,659 11,159

Labour force status(a):

Employed, worked full-time(b) 2,301 1,199 3,495

Employed, worked part-time 968 1,875 2,841

Employed, away from work(c) 309 244 550

Unemployed, looking for work 186 149 335

Total labour force 3,760 3,467 7,232

Not in the labour force 1,283 1,766 3,041

% Unemployment(d) 4.9 4.3 4.6

% Labour force participation(e) 68.3 61.3 64.8

% Employment to population(f) 65 58.6 61.7

Non-school qualifications(a):

Postgraduate Degree 107 139 242

Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate 72 161 237

Bachelor Degree 697 1,059 1,758

Advanced Diploma and Diploma 395 669 1,068

Certificate Level 1,726 945 2,670

Migration

Lived at same address 1 year ago 5,176 5,180 10,358

Lived at different address 1 year ago 1,192 1,267 2,456

Lived at same address 5 years ago 3,096 3,051 6,146

Lived at different address 5 years ago 2,855 3,026 5,883

Source: ABS, 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Notes: (a) Applicable to persons aged 15 years and over. (b) 'Employed, worked full-time' is defined as having worked 35 hours or more in all jobs during the week prior to Census Night. (c) Comprises employed persons who did not work any hours in the week prior to Census Night and employed persons who did not state their hours worked. (d) The number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the total labour force. (e) The number of persons in the labour force as a percentage of persons aged 15 years and over. (f) The number of employed persons as a percentage of persons aged 15 years and over.

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Table 27 includes some recent economic indicators relating to jobs and productivity etc. In 2012/13 the Shire had approximately 0.54% of the State population, 0.82% of businesses, 0.27% of the gross regional product, 0.42% of the jobs, and 0.46% of building approvals in the State. Table 27

Economic indicators 2012/2013

Shire of Augusta Western Australia Margaret River

Gross regional Value $678m $247,103m product (GRP) State % 0.27% 100%

Number 5,851 1,371,329 Local jobs State % 0.42% 100%

Worker productivity $115,996 $180,100 (GRP/worker)

Unemployment 4.73% 4.65%

Number 1,802 219,320 Businesses State % 0.82% 100%

Building $,000 56,281 11,912,440 approvals State % 0.46% 100% Sources: ABS; id.com.au (http://content.id.com.au/economic-indicators-australia); National Institute of Economic and Industry Research; Dept of Education, Employment and Workforce Relations.

Table 28 indicates that Shire residents rely significantly on private vehicles for personal transport due to the regional location of the Shire. Table 28

Number of registered motor vehicles/dwelling, 2016

Shire of Augusta Vehicles/dwelling Australia % Margaret River

None 108 (2.1%) 7.5%

1 motor vehicle 1,509 (29.9%) 34.8%

2 motor vehicles 2,141 (42.4%) 36.2%

3 or more motor vehicles 1,130 (22.4%) 18.1%

Number not stated 162 (3.2%) 3.4% Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2016

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6.4 Urban Development and Construction Significant urban development is occurring in the Shire and this is anticipated to continue in the long term as natural growth and migration continues. The majority of residential building activity over the past ten years has occurred in Margaret River, Augusta, Gnarabup/Prevelly and Cowaramup. Urban development is expected to continue in accordance with the outcomes published in the Local Planning Strategy, townsite strategies and endorsed urban structure plans. Table 29 indicates the rate of residential building activity in the Shire since 1996. This shows that there has been an average of 206 dwellings constructed each year between 1996 and 2011. Much of this activity has occurred in Margaret River with an average of 118 dwellings per year in that time. Between 2011 and 2016 the rate of dwelling construction in the Shire appears to have slowed to around 186 per year (average). Table 29

Dwellings 1996-2016

Number of private dwellings

June 1996 June 2001 June 2006 June 2011 June 2016

Shire of Augusta 3,716 4,952 5,909 6,810 7,740 Margaret River

increase - 1,236 957 901 930

Source: ABS Census data. Table 30 indicates average sale values for dwellings in selected areas in 2014 and 2015. It is apparent that house sale values in Margaret River, Cowaramup and Augusta are increasing while they are flat in Bunbury, Dunsborough and Busselton. Table 30

Average dwelling sale values ($)

2014 2015

houses units land houses units land

Margaret River 463,200 330,000 185,000 497,000 346,500 172,000

Cowaramup 483,500 n/a 189,000 536,000 n/a 185,000

Augusta 470,000 n/a 160,000 495,000 n/a 175,000

Bunbury 392,700 305,500 190,000 390,000 319,900 181,000

Busselton 470,000 390,000 180,500 470,000 385,500 182,500

Dunsborough 650,000 477,500 237,500 647,000 560,000 245,000 Source: Landgate sales statistics - values are based on an analysis of recorded arms-length sale records and is intended only as an indicator of trends.

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Table 31 summarises future residential development outcomes sourced from land use planning documents. This indicates that there is long term potential for development of over 10,000 additional lots in these areas. Table 31

Summary of Residential Lot Yield

2011 lot Additional lots TOTAL estimate 2011+

Margaret River 2,650 4,850 7,500

Augusta 1,100 2,100 3,200

Cowaramup 400 800 1,200

Witchcliffe 40 1,260 1,300

Other areas 2,500 1,000 3,500

TOTAL - - 16,700

Source: Shire of Augusta Margaret River Local Planning Strategy

Future population growth in the Shire will be dominated by urban development in Margaret River, Augusta, Cowaramup and Witchcliffe. Gnarabup and various rural residential areas also have some capacity for additional residential development on currently vacant lots. Issues and priorities for the housing construction industry in the Shire include: . Availability of skilled trades workers (competition with resources sector). . Sustainable land use and development e.g. water sensitive urban design. . More climate-responsive and sustainable housing. . Provision of land to the market once subdivided. . More diversity and improved affordability in housing. . High rates of dwelling vacancy. . Provision of adequate community facilities by development.

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6.5 Housing The intrinsic relationship between population growth, incomes, and the cost and supply of housing in the South-West impacts on housing availability and affordability in the Shire. Average household size is increasing in many South-West areas due both to the increase in family with children households and an apparent shortage of housing, especially affordable housing. Some Shires are investigating mechanisms for encouraging more diversity in housing, including smaller dwellings, in an effort to improve housing availability and affordability. Margaret River already has a number of strata developments on the market that include one and two bedroom apartments. The proportion of dwelllings rented in the Shire decreased from 33% to 29% between 2011 and 2016, and the median weekly rent increased by 15% to $300. The proportion of dwellings owned outright remained stable at 31% while the proportion of dwellings mortgaged increased from 32.7% to 36.8% between 2011 and 2016. Some South West Shires have high rates of dwelling vacancy in certain areas. Almost 30% of dwellings in Augusta Margaret River Shire were vacant in 2016. In settlements like Augusta and Dunsborough, the vacancy rate is around 45%. This issue can impact housing affordability by limiting housing supply and increasing competition for available housing.

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7.0 Community Planning

7.1 Community Vision The Shire’s Strategic Community Plan 2036 was adopted in 2017 to protect the natural environment, strengthen communities, foster local economic prosperity and responsibly manage the community’s infrastructure and assets. The Plan is available to peruse on the Shire’s web site ‘www.amrshire.wa.gov.au’ under ‘Publications’. The Figure below summarises the Shire’s strategic goals and key performance measures. Figure 11

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7.2 Community Development The Shire is committed to pursuing careful and balanced social planning to ensure community facilities and services meet the demands and expectations of the community. This promotes and supports welcoming and inclusive communities for all people to experience safe and quality lifestyles that celebrate local identity, diversity and culture. Arts and culture The Shire has a diverse array of emerging and professional artists who practice crafts ranging from oil paintings to street performances. Through the Creative Blueprint, a four-year cultural planning framework, the Shire is better positioned to access funds for local arts, cultural and heritage activities and can:

 commit to fostering creativity and artistic activity,  guide the delivery of the art and cultural programmes, services and activities,  assist with the planning, development and resourcing of cultural facilities, and  support organisations and groups to provide arts, cultural and heritage services. Disability access and inclusion The Shire is committed to ensure that appropriate universal access is available to the community through all its functions. The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2014-2017 seeks not only to meet legislative requirements but to strategically address access and inclusion issues to the benefit of all community members making the Shire a people friendly place to live, work and visit. There are many service providers in the Shire providing assistance to people of varied abilities and their carers and an active community not for profit group, Artzability, that brings together the social and emotional wellbeing needs through theatre, art, music, dance and other activities on a weekly basis. Age friendly community The Shire has recently developed the Age Friendly Community Plan 2017-2021 which provides the Shire with strategic guidance to achieve the goal of remaining an age friendly community. The Shire’s focus is on providing or promoting age friendly housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, outdoor spaces and information, transportation and community and health services. Youth The Shire recognises that young people are important and valued members of the community and so actively seeks youth perspectives and opinions when planning its youth services and programmes. There is an active Youth Advisory Council to guide decision making and implementation of the Strengthening Youth Plan and several youth facilities such as the Zone Room and three skate parks located in Augusta, Margaret River and Cowarmaup.to support and create opportunities for young people living in the Shire. Volunteering Volunteers play an important role in keeping communities safe, clean, vibrant and connected. The Shire has a strong volunteer workforce that contributes invaluable amounts of time, skills and life experience to the wider community. In 2016 a total of 3,120 volunteers of all ages. Volunteers are celebrated and acknowledged through National and International Thank a Volunteer Day events. Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year are recognised every year.

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Volunteers

Age group No. of volunteers

15-19 152

20-24 83

25-34 293

35-44 684

45-54 632

55-65 578

65-74 490

75-84 183

85+ 34

7.3 Land Use Planning The Sustainable Development Directorate of the Shire is responsible for the coordination of the growth and form of the Shire via the planning of residential development, commercial centres, tourist development, rural land and recreation areas. This is achieved through the preparation of Local Planning Schemes, assessment of development, rezoning and subdivision applications, and by formulating policies and strategies for development and conservation. The Directorate provides planning and development information to the community and is responsible for the preparation of land use plans and policies designed to manage land use and development, and preserve the character and environment of the Shire. Services include: . assessment of development and subdivision applications . assessment of Scheme amendment proposals (including rezoning) . administration of the Local Planning Scheme . formulation and implementation of planning and development policies . preparation of land use and urban growth strategies . building control.

Local Planning Scheme No. 1 was gazetted in 2010 and comprises a Scheme text and Scheme map (in a number of sheets). All land in the Shire has been ‘zoned’ or ‘reserved’ for a particular land use on the Scheme map e.g. ‘Residential’, ‘Rural’, ‘Recreation’. The text lists the types of use or development that is permitted in each zone, specifies the uses which require planning consent, and describes any restrictions which may relate to land use and/or development.

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There are also Scheme policies and guidelines which affect the use and development of land within the Shire and can influence outcomes related to landscape protection, clearing of vegetation, building height and other related matters. The use or development of land generally requires the planning approval of the Shire. Planning decisions are made by the Shire based on the local planning framework, and often involves consultation with the community and Government agencies. If planning approval is granted, it is usually subject to a range of conditions, which must be met before the issue of the building licence, prior to the occupation of the completed development or before commencement of the use. Subdivision applications are determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission which considers comments from the Shire and other referral authorities.

7.4 Local Planning Strategy 2011 The Local Planning Strategy (LPS) establishes the strategic planning direction for the Shire, sets out the planning rationale for specific zones and gives effect to the provisions of the Local Planning Scheme. The purpose of the LPS is to provide a medium to long-term land use planning strategy. Specifically the LPS establishes strategies for development over the next 15 years, while the district Scheme is the implementation mechanism for the next 5-10 year period. The Strategy serves as a basis for the review of town planning decisions in determining the consistency of those decisions with respect to the Shire’s long term planning objectives. It may also be used as a factor in determining the appropriateness of future local planning scheme amendments, and where practicable, all local planning scheme amendments should be consistent with the overall intent and direction of the Strategy. The Shire will also have regard to the Strategy when considering planning applications pursuant to Local Planning Scheme No. 1. The LPS is therefore intended to become a central planning policy of the Scheme setting out the Shire’s general aims and intentions for future long-term growth, sustainable development and orderly and proper planning.

Bussell Highway, Margaret River

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7.5 State Planning Policy 6.1 - Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge This Policy applies over the scenically spectacular, narrow coastal strip stretching from the nearshore waters of Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin and inland to Bussell Highway in the Shires of Augusta Margaret River and Busselton. The purpose of the Policy is to provide the strategic planning framework for the area for the next 30 years by providing greater vision, guidance and certainty of land use. The Policy promotes sustainable development, conservation, and land and resource management. It seeks to provide assistance to those managing land use change, enable greater consistency between the two local governments, give clear regional-level advice to proponents of development, and provide a reference to guide development and conservation by improving the information available to the community. The objectives of the Policy are to:

. conserve and enhance the special benefits arising from landscape elements that form the fabric of the region; . respect and conserve its outstanding natural and cultural heritage and environmental values; . cater for population growth consistent with the objectives of the policy and provide a range of settlement options located to enhance the economic, social and environmental functions, while promoting quality and innovation in urban design and built form; . protect agricultural land for its economic, landscape, tourism and social values; . encourage a mix of compatible land uses while separating conflicting land uses; . facilitate a robust, diverse and sustainable economy; and . foster a sense of community and creativity;

for the benefit of all residents and visitors and for future generations.

Policy link: https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/SPP6_1.pdf

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7.6 Bushfire Planning The Shire is located in the Southwest Fire District and contains extreme bush fire hazard areas that could expose particular settlements and communities to severe risk from bushfire. Fire risk is an important consideration for development within the Shire to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the area as well as the protection of property. State Planning Policy 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas (SPP 3.7) was gazetted in 2015. SPP 3.7 directs how land use should address bushfire risk management in Western Australia. It applies to all land that has been designated as bushfire prone by the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner as highlighted on the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas. SPP 3.7 seeks to guide the implementation of effective risk-based land use planning and development to preserve life and reduce the impact of bushfire on property and infrastructure. It applies to all higher order strategic planning documents, strategic planning proposals, subdivision and development applications located in designated bushfire prone areas (unless exemptions apply). This policy also applies where an area is not yet designated as bushfire prone but the proposed development is planned in a way that introduces a bushfire hazard e.g. revegetation. The accompanying ‘Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas’ provide supporting information to assist in the interpretation of the objectives and policy measures outlined in SPP 3.7. They provide advice on how bushfire risk is to be addressed when planning, designing or assessing a planning proposal within a designated bushfire prone area. The Department of Planning and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services are currently undertaking a staged review of the Guidelines. Version 1.1 was released on 20 February 2017. The changes within this version are effective immediately and all planning proposals and applications where SPP 3.7 applies should be assessed against the updated criteria within reason.

Policy link: https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/8194.aspx

Fire affected landscape north of Prevelly - early 2012

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Reference material

AEC Group, 2012. Socio-Economic Profile - Margaret River SuperTown Growth Plan. Perth, WA. AEC Group, 2012. Opportunity Assessment & Gap Analysis - Margaret River SuperTown Growth Plan. Perth, WA. Augusta Community Portal web page. www.augusta.wa.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics web page. 2011 and 2016 Census of Population and Housing and 3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2010-11. Canberra, ACT. Cowaramup Retailer’s Association web page. www.cowaramup.com.au CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2005. Augusta-Margaret River Regional Profile. Department of Agriculture and Food web page. www.agric.wa.gov.au Department of Local Government web page. www.dlg.wa.gov.au Department of Regional Development and Lands web page. www.rdl.wa.gov.au Margaret River and Districts Historical Society web page. www.mrdhs.com Margaret River Wine Industry Association web page. www.margaretriverwine.org.au Margaret River Visitor Centre web page. www.margaretriver.com Margaret River Vista web page. www.margaretrivervista.com Regional Development Australia - South West, 2010. South West Regional Plan 2010. Bunbury, WA. Shire of Augusta Margaret River, 2015. Strategic Community Plan 2033. Shire of Augusta Margaret River 2011, Local Planning Strategy. South West Development Commission web page. www.swdc.wa.gov.au Syme Marmion & Co, 2008. Shire of Augusta Margaret River Community Facilities Plan. West Perth, WA Western Australia Planning Commission web page. www.planning.wa.gov.au

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Notes on ABS data

Confidentiality In relation to Census data for small areas, the ABS advises that this data is subject to a confidentiality process before release to avoid releasing information that may allow for identification of particular individuals, families or households. Accordingly, care should be taken in analysing tables with cells containing small numbers. Aside from the effects of the confidentiality process, possible respondent and processing errors have greatest relative impact on small numbers. It is not possible to determine which individual figures have been affected by random error adjustments, but the ABS advises that the small variance which may be associated with derived totals can, for the most part, be ignored.

Estimated Resident Population The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is the official measure of the Australian population, and is based on the concept of usual residence. It refers to all people, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. The ERP includes usual residents who are overseas for less than 12 months and excludes overseas visitors who are in Australia for less than 12 months. In the Census year, the ERP is first calculated at the Census date, and is then backdated to calculate the ERP at 30 June of the Census year. After each Census, estimates for the preceding inter-censal period are revised to ensure that the total inter-censal increase agrees with the difference between the estimated resident populations at the two 30 June dates in the respective Census years. In the compilation of the 30 June ERP for a Census year, three important adjustments are made to the Census count based on Place of usual residence.

. The first is an adjustment for Census under-enumeration. The level of under-enumeration is derived from the Post Enumeration Survey which is conducted soon after the Census, and from estimates based on demographic analysis. . The second adjustment is the inclusion of the estimated number of Australian residents who are temporarily overseas on Census Night and are therefore not covered by the Australian Census. Using data on residents returning in the 12 months after the Census date, an estimate of the number of residents temporarily overseas is made. . The third adjustment occurs because the Census is not conducted on 30 June. For example, the 2016 Census was held on 9 August and population estimates were back-dated to 30 June.

Statistical Geography The ABS replaced the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) with the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) in July 2011. The mid-2011 release of ‘Regional Population Growth, Australia’ (cat. no. 3218.0) contains data on both geographies, allowing a smoother transition to the new geography. Consequently resident population estimates for both geographies e.g. SLA and the Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) were available in that release. Population estimates are available at the SA2 level and at other levels such as SA3 and SA4. ERP data is available on request for other geographical aggregations (for example geographical areas built up from SA1s) as a charged consultancy service. The LGA is one of the non-ABS geographies included in the ASGS, and as LGA population estimates are regarded as an important ABS output, they will continue to be prepared and released.

Natural Connected Prosperous

Shire of Augusta Margaret River 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River 6285 | T (08) 9780 5255 | F (08) 9757 2512 | amrshire.wa.gov.au

Acknowledgments

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Tim Shingles - Strategic Projects Planner Nick Logan - Manager, Planning and Development

Margaret River Visitor Centre www.margaretriver.com

Australian Bureau of Statistics www.abs.gov.au

Department of Planning www.planning.wa.gov.au

South West Development Commission www.swdc.wa.gov.au

Landgate www.landgate.wa.gov.au

Department of Indigenous Affairs www.dia.wa.gov.au

Department of Regional Development and Lands www.rdl.wa.gov.au

Department of Local Government www.dlg.wa.gov.au

Department of Indigenous Affairs

Natural Connected Prosperous

Shire of Augusta Margaret River 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River 6285 | T (08) 9780 5255 | F (08) 9757 2512 | amrshire.wa.gov.au Appendix 1 Locality Plans

Augusta 1:120,000

Cowaramup 1:40,000 Gracetown 1:25,000

Gnarabup/Prevelly 1:65,000 Margaret River 1:80,000