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Industries
HorticultureThe Carnarvon plantation area (161 plantations) includes about 1020ha of cropped horticultural land. Vegetables are grown on about 570ha, 350ha are planted to bananas, and 100ha to tree fruits. The industry is valued at $51.3m. The diversity of the produce grown in the area is considerable, some being tropical fruits, paw paw, mangoes, citrus, stone, avocados, grapes and vegetable crops such as tomatoes, beans, capsicums and asparagus.
The townsite is built at the mouth of the Gascoyne River. Irrigation and drinking water are drawn from the acquifers in the Gascoyne River which are replenished during river flows. Water is rationed and each grower receives an annual allocation. The water is of good quality. Plantations are situated along the Gascoyne River from about 5 to 19km inland from the river mouth.
Salt & Gypsum MiningLake MacLeod is situated 65km north of Carnarvon. This large near coastal lake occupies 2072 square kilometres separated from the Indian Ocean by coastal dunes and outcrops of rock. The lake is 110km long and 40km across its widest section.
The geological data of the lake consists of a layer of gypsite (natural gypsum) which is now mined, approximately 2 metres thick, overlaying a body of halite (mineral salt) which measures up to 6 metres deep. In 1999/2000 mining production was valued at $70.8m of which salt accounted for $50.2m and gypsum $20.3m.
FishingIn 1999/2000 season the region's fishing catch total 5805 tonnes and was estimated at $73m. The catch is dominated by prawns, however molluscs, lobster, crabs and a variety of wetline fish are also caught in the Gascoyne and processed at on shore operations at Carnarvon, Exmouth and Shark Bay.
Pastoral115,800 square kilometres of the Gascoyne is taken up by pastoral stations. The production of meat and wool are the primary activities however many stations are diversifying in goat domestication, horticulture (grapes) inland aquaculture and outback tourism.
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