South Coast NRM Subregions
Fitzgerald Biosphere Group
The Fitzgerald Biosphere sub-region is the largest of the six sub-regions centres on the Fitzgerald River National Park which has been recognised internationally since 1978 as part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program for its floral diversity. Its boundary is based on the biosphere reserve boundary and contains the towns of Bremer Bay, Jerramungup, Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun. It takes in part of the Pallinup River catchment and all of the Bremer, Gairdner, Fitzgerald, Hamersley, West, Phillips, Steer and Jerdacuttup River catchments. Rainfall ranges from 500mm per annum in the south and declines to 325mm per annum in the north east.
Settlement of the sub-region took place in the late 1950's with the release of land for Soldier Settlement and Conditional Purchase for agricultural purposes. Over the years a little over half of the sub-region has been released and cleared for agricultural purposes, with a large portion of the remainder, including the internationally Fitzgerald River National Park, remaining uncleared and forming part of the state conservation estate.
Land use within cleared areas is predominantly winter cereal production and grazing. Wheat and barley are the main cereal crops, grown in rotation with lupins, canola and subterranean or medic pasture.
Agricultural production for the area has the potential to significantly improve through the incorporation site specific alternative land uses such as pulse crops in rotation on heavier textured soils, perennial pastures for improved soil-water use, and tagasaste or Pinus pinaster on the deeper sands into current agricultural land use systems. Other less developed agricultural land use activities that could emerge include emus, deer, aquaculture, mining, wildflowers and eco-tourism. A small area around Bremer Bay also has potential to develop a small horticulture and wine grape growing industry.
Within uncleared areas, the conservation of unique flora, fauna and ecosystems within the conservation estate and tourism activities predominate.
See also: