Shire of Roebourne Local Planning Strategy

Shire of Roebourne Local Planning StrategyTechnical Report A1: Economic Development Strategy4.10 Natural ResourcesCompetitiveness IndexElementPilbara SituationRegional access to naturalresourcesThere are abundant mineral resources but very limited waterresources.Physical attributes of aregion, and whether theyare conducive to industryThe climate is not conducive to agriculture, except for some potentialspecialist and technology-intensive applications. There is CO 2 feedstock and good conditions for intensive algae farming. There arehigh-value heritage sites, giving tourist potential.Overall:There is opportunity for several main classes of expansion to the externally-oriented sectorsof the Pilbara economy:Expansion of the economic base – the probability of development of the main mineralsand energy projects has been addressed and analysed in the Chamber of Minerals andEnergy report. This shows some expansion, but a general slowing of new constructionand a fairly quick transition to an operational phase overall. However, there are newprospects that may arise and become viable over time and be either located in orserviced from the Pilbara. These include Canning Basin gas projects and the BalmoralSouth magnetite project.Diversification projects: several of these are possible and are addressed below.Exportable services: at the moment the services base of the Pilbara is small andunderdeveloped. However research institutes and tertiary education focussing on furtherdevelopment of the region’s base minerals and energy industries and spin-offs formtechnology-based diversification projects would provide a services sector with outputapplicable outside of the region. This is an area of great opportunity for the region andis one key to achievement of the Pilbara Cities vision.43