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Outback South Australia
Outback South Australia (aka Far North SA) is a vast region of approximately 780,000 square kilometres that takes in the sparsely settled country of the north of South Australia. It accounts for approximately 80% of the State but supports around 14,000 people, or less than 1% of the State's population most of whom are concentrated in a few urban centres.
Outback South Australia is roughly defined as the area from the Aboriginal Lands on the Western Australian border following a line east along the Eyre Highway incorporating the Gawler Ranges to Yunta and Cockburn in the east, and all areas northwards to the Queensland and Northern Territory borders. Port Augusta, Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges region from Peterborough to Arkaroola is excluded (for the purposes of this summary).
The population is skewed towards young working age males, reflecting the nature of employment opportunities in the region. Economic activity is dominated by the pastoral, mining and service industries that have always been the mainstays of the region, and with tourism rising significantly in importance in recent years. Land-use in the Outback SA region is dominated by domestic stock grazing on native rangelands, indigenous lands and conservation reserves. Over 50,000km2 of the outback areas are now under exploration leases with exploration companies prospecting for a diverse range of minerals with strong interest in copper, gold, nickel, lead, zinc, magnetite, chromium, tin, coal, diamonds, heavy mineral sands, iron ore and uranium.
Mining is undoubtedly Outback South Australia's dominant industry and will continue to be so given the potential revealed in exploration programs over the past 10 years. Also of great benefit to the industry is the ongoing support of consecutive Governments that have recognised the economic benefits of the industry to the State.
The Tourism, Food, Art and Defence sectors however, are fast emerging as important industries in the pursuit of economic sustainability for many communities in the Outback SA.