The Eyre Peninsula NRM region covers a significant area of the state and includes part of the upper Spencer Gulf and the City of Whyalla, stretches across the southern boundaries of the Gawler Ranges, west of Ceduna to the edge of the Nullarbor Plain and south to Port Lincoln. The surrounding coastal and marine environments are included along with important offshore islands.
The Eyre Peninsula NRM Board region covers an area of over 80,000 square km (including marine areas) and supports a population of about 55,000.
The Eyre Peninsula has significant areas of natural vegetation cover (55%) and contains important mallee habitat, several woodland communities and a high number of endemic species. The region features fresh and saline wetlands and a long and relatively undisturbed coastline with important adjacent marine habitats.
Groundwater plays a vital role, with only one limited surface catchment (the Tod) that has been utilised for storage. The major groundwater basins are within the Southern Basins Prescribed Wells Area and the Musgrave Prescribed Wells Area. There are other localised groundwater lenses that provide limited quantity and varying quality of water.
The economic industries of Eyre Peninsula are based on agriculture (traditionally grain and wool, with olives and grapes increasing), seafood (fishing and aquaculture), tourism and mineral resources. The contribution to the State’s economy by the Eyre Peninsula region is significant.
The region’s future economic well being is almost entirely reliant on a well managed and sustainable suite of natural resources.
