The Mid West region covers approximately 468,712 square kilometres (including offshore islands) or nearly one-fifth of the area of Western Australia. The region extends along the coast from Greenhead in the south, where it borders the Wheatbelt region, to beyond Kalbarri in the north where it borders the Gascoyne region. The Mid West also extends more than 800km east into the mineral rich hinterland where it is bordered by the Pilbara and Goldfields-Esperance regions. The Mid West region embraces a wide diversity of landscapes and land uses. The waters of the Mid West are rich fishing grounds. It also includes agricultural areas along and near the coast extending to the pastoral and mining areas inland.

Mining has long been a major contributor to the Mid West economy. The emergence of China and India as major industrialised economies has stimulated further interest in the Mid West’s ample mineral resources, particularly iron ore. The activity in the resources sector accompanied by major projects such as the Oakajee deepwater port, rail and industrial estate; the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder Project and other major projects will ensure significant population employment and hence growth in the coming years.

Whilst the resources sector is significant, the Mid West economy also has valuable agriculture, fishing and tourism industries. Diversification and value adding across all sectors, combined with a strengthening of the region’s strategic infrastructure and further development of its tourism potential, will ensure the Mid West’s continued growth.

The amalgamated City of Geraldton-Greenough is the region’s major commercial, administrative and service centre and has an estimated population of around 38 000 people. The Department of Regional Development and Lands estimates the Mid West region’s Gross Regional Product to be valued at around $4.1 billion for the year 2008-09, representing around 2.4 per cent of the state total.