CONTENTS Page No. Minister’s Foreword.................................................................................................................................................................................................iii Foreword by the Steering Committee Chairman..................................................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................................................ix Summary of Recommendations ..............................................................................................................................................................................x PART 1 – BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................................................2 1.1 THE GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE REGION..............................................................................................................................2 1.2 THE NEED FOR THE STRATEGY .............................................................................................................................................2 1.3 MAJOR PLANNING ISSUES.......................................................................................................................................................4 1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY..................................................................................................................................................5 1.5 STUDY PROCESS .........................................................................................................................................................................6 1.6 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION ..............................................................................................................................................6 1.7 STUDY MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................................................6 2.0 PLANNING CONTEXT.............................................................................................................................................................................8 2.1 REGIONAL PLANNING IN THE REGION (PAST INITIATIVES)........................................................................................8 2.2 COMMONWEALTH AND STATE GOVERNMENT POLICIES (MAJOR POLICIES INFLUENCING PLANNING) ....9 2.2.1 The Commonwealth Government .................................................................................................................................9 2.2.2 The State Government.....................................................................................................................................................9 2.3 LAND USE PLANNING SYSTEM IN WA (PLANNING HIERARCHY AND STATE PLANNING STRATEGY)...........12 3.0 PLANNING ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................................................................16 3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS....................................................................................................................................16 3.1.1 Population.......................................................................................................................................................................16 3.1.2 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................................16 3.1.3 Gender Ratio and Age Structure...................................................................................................................................18 3.1.4 Income Levels and Distribution ...................................................................................................................................18 3.1.5 Employment by Industry ..............................................................................................................................................18 3.1.6 Demographic Trends in the Shires and Cities of the Region .....................................................................................18 3.2 SETTLEMENTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES..................................................................................................................20 3.2.1 Issues Affecting Patterns of Growth and Settlement...................................................................................................20 3.2.2 Analysis of Settlements ..................................................................................................................................................22 Kalgoorlie-Boulder – Regional Centre .........................................................................................................................22 Esperance – Sub-regional Centre..................................................................................................................................25 Leonora – Sub-regional Centre.....................................................................................................................................26 Laverton – District Service Centre................................................................................................................................28 Leinster – District Service Centre .................................................................................................................................30 Coolgardie – District Service Centre............................................................................................................................32 Kambalda – District Service Centre .............................................................................................................................34 Norseman – District Service Centre.............................................................................................................................36 Ravensthorpe – District Service Centre .......................................................................................................................36 Menzies – Local Service Centre ....................................................................................................................................39 Eucla – Local Service Centre .........................................................................................................................................41 Hopetoun – Local Service Centre.................................................................................................................................41 Warburton – Local Service Centre ...............................................................................................................................43 Aboriginal Communities...............................................................................................................................................43 Other Settlements – Local Service Centres..................................................................................................................46 v CONTENTS Page No. 3.3 HERITAGE AND CULTURE......................................................................................................................................................47 3.3.1 Aboriginal Heritage........................................................................................................................................................47 3.3.2 European History and Heritage....................................................................................................................................47 3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION ..............................................................................................50 3.4.1 Physical Characteristics..................................................................................................................................................50 3.4.2 Land Degradation ..........................................................................................................................................................59 3.4.3 Conservation Estate .......................................................................................................................................................60 3.5 COASTAL AND MARINE PROTECTION...............................................................................................................................62 3.6 ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND PROPOSALS ......................................................................................................................63 3.6.1 Mining.............................................................................................................................................................................63 3.6.2 Basic Raw Materials .......................................................................................................................................................70 3.6.3