East Arnhem Region – Nhulunbuy
The East Arnhem region encompasses the East Arnhem division including Groote Eylandt and is centred on the town of Nhulunbuy.
The East Arnhem region covers 38 435 sq kms, which is 3% of the Northern Territory.
Nhulunbuy is the service centre for a rural population three times the size of the town itself and for tourists who visit the area.
The region supports a range of industries including fishing, mining, tourism, aboriginal services, construction, retail, community and government services.
The region is one of the most remote in Australia with many land connections cut for months at a time during the wet season.
The construction of a gas pipeline from Katherine to Gove in the medium term should have direct and indirect benefits which will enhance the region's economic outlook.
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Regional Demographics
Population
The population of the East Arnhem region at the time of the 2006 census was 13 942 persons.
Nhulunbuy is home to an estimated 4111 people, or 29% of the total population in the East Arnhem region.
Borroloola has a population of 772 and accounts for 6% of the total population in the East Arnhem region.
Indigenous people make up 61% (8550) of the East Arnhem region's total population.
Median Age |
The median age for the East Arnhem region is 27-33 years in Nhulunbuy and 25 years in Borroloola. |
Working Age |
68% (9507 persons) of the East Arnhem region's population is of working age (between 15-64 years). 73% (2994) of persons residing in Nhulunbuy are of working age and 63% (490) of people in Borroloola are of working age. |
Average Number of Household Occupants |
Average household occupancy is 4.6 in the East Arnhem region, 3.1 in Nhulunbuy and 4.5 in Borroloola. |
Median Housing Loan Repayment |
The median monthly housing loan repayment is $1086 per month in the East Arnhem region, $1145 in Nhulunbuy and $834 per month in Borroloola. |
Median Weekly Household Income |
The median weekly household income at the time of the 2006 census was $1546 in the East Arnhem region, $2220 in Nhulunbuy and $1012 in Borroloola. The median weekly household income for Australia was $1027. |
Rental Properties |
Rental properties account for 92% (2343) of all dwellings in the East Arnhem region, with 940 rental properties located in Nhulunbuy and 106 properties in Borroloola. |
Median Weekly Rent |
In 2006, median weekly rent was $30 in the East Arnhem region, $18 in Nhulunbuy and $30 for Borroloola. |
Economy
Employment
In 2008 the East Arnhem region had 5153 people in the labour force, with 46% of the labour force living in Nhulunbuy.
Employment by industry in East Arnhem is dominated by public administration (22%), manufacturing (21%), construction (13%), mining (10%), and health care and social assistance (10%).
The manufacturing industry in East Arnhem centres on the production of alumina at the Alcan mine in Nhulunbuy.
The major occupation profiles in East Arnhem consist of labourers (21%), technicians and trades workers (16%), professionals (15%), machinery operators and drivers (10%) and clerical and administrative workers (10%).
Number of Businesses
In 2006-07 the East Arnhem region had 186 business entities based on the ABS Business Count including construction (42), retail trade (33), property and business services (33), agriculture, forestry and fishing (27) and personal and other services (18). Most of the businesses were located in Nhulunbuy.
Construction and Building
In 2006 the value of new residential buildings was $28 million for 141 buildings approved in the region. The value of non-residential building approvals for 2005-06 was $3.1 million.
The $2 billion plus Alcan G3 alumina refinery expansion project in Nhulunbuy, employing around 2000 people, is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the Northern Territory. It will increase plant capacity from 2 million tonnes of alumina per annum to 3.8 million tonnes by 2009-10.
Mining
In 2007-08, production of minerals and petroleum in the East Arnhem region was valued at $1.69 billion. This represented 58% of Northern Territory onshore mining production value and consisted of manganese (GEMCO) and bauxite mined and alumina produced (Alcan) in the region.
Fisheries
Nhulunbuy is the home port for fishing vessels in the Spanish mackerel and barramundi fisheries and a service centre for these and other fisheries in the area. The area is also a service centre for some of the Northern Prawn Fishery fleet. Pearl farming is a growing industry in the English Company's Islands and Truant Island.
Key Facts 2008
| Area | 38 435 sq kms |
| Population | - Region 13 942 - Nhulunbuy 4111 |
| Labour Force | - Region 5153 - Nhulunbuy 2379 |
| Unemployment Rate | - Region 9.4% - Nhulunbuy 3.0% |
| Tourist Visitor Numbers | 230 000* |
| Number of Businesses | 186** |
| Mining Value | $1 600 000 000 |
*Indicates average tourist numbers for Kakadu and East Arnhem for 2004-5 to 2006-07
** ABS Business Count 2006-07.
Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing - Basic Community Profiles by Location - East Arnhem
2006 Census of Population and Housing - Basic Community Profiles by Location - Nhulunbuy
2006 Census of Population and Housing - Basic Community Profiles by Location - Borroloola
Next census due in August 2011, and data expected by early 2012
Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources production data 2007-08
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Small Area Labour Markets, Australia, March Quarter 2008
Tourism Research Australia's - National Visitors Survey (NVS) and International Visitor Survey (IVS).
Content current at 30 April 2010.