About the Pilbara District
Extending from the Indian Ocean to the Northern Territory border, the Pilbara covers more than 500,000 square kilometres. The region comprises four local government authorities - the Shires of Ashburton,East Pilbara and Roebourne, and the Town of Port Hedland.
Defined by the waters of the Indian Ocean to the west and the Northern Territory border to the east, the Pilbara is Western Australia's second most northern region. The Kimberley region lies to the north across the Great Sandy Desert; the southern boundary extends to boarder the Gascoyne, Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
The region can be separated into three distinct geographical formations - a vast coastal plain, inland ranges and an arid desert region extending into Australia's dry centre.
It is home to approximately 2.1% of Western Australia's population (39,676 estimated population by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 2000/2001). The population has declined over the last ten years, due primarily to restructuring within the resources sector. The vast majority of the population live in the western third of the region, in the towns of Port/South Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Roebourne, Wickham, Dampier, Pannawonica, Onslow and Marble Bar.
The Pilbara is considered the premier mining region for Western Australia and the principal economic drivers are the mining and resource industries. While the mineral and petroleum sectors are the mainstay of the Pilbara's economy, the region is continuing to diversify and expand its economic base with the continued development of its tourism, retail, trade and agricultural industries.
There are over 5,700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Pilbara with a number of smaller Aboriginal communities scattered across the region with resident populations of between 50 and 300 people. Many communities still practice traditional ceremonies, and most Aboriginal people have a strong belief system that is linked to their culture, thus influencing relationships and kin responsibilities, spirituality, belonging, and obligations within a group.