South Coast NRM Subregions
Kent-Frankland
The Kent-Frankland sub-region takes in the towns of Rocky Gully, Frankland, Cranbrook, Tambellup, Walpole and Broomehill. It contains the high rainfall, forested catchments flowing into the Nornalup and Irwin Inlets, with rainfall dropping off from in excess of 1200mm per annum at Walpole in the south, to about 450mm per annum at Broomehill in the north.
Settlement of the sub-region occurred during the 1900's with large-scale land clearing and the establishment of major towns. By 1968, 54% of the Frankland area had been cleared for agriculture and 85% cleared by 1982. Cereal cropping, canola production and sheep grazing, with beef production near the coast, were the main land uses.
At present, grazing activities and an emerging viticultural industry predominates in the upper Frankland catchment. Farm forestry, timber plantations, and olive plantations are also increasing land uses. In the lower half of the catchment, State Forest with only small areas cleared for agriculture predominates. Logging activity (concentrating in the Karri-Marri forests) occurs in the Walpole and Northcliffe areas.
In the Kent catchment there is a trend towards fewer, larger farms in the northern broad-acre areas and greater numbers of smaller land holdings for rural residential and more intensive and diverse agricultural land uses in the in the high rainfall, southern coastal areas.
Throughout the sub-region, nature conservation and recreational activities are popular in the southern half, with the coastal strip being popular for professional and amateur fishing.
See also: