1.1.2 Geography

Summary

The topography of the Pedirka subregion (the subregion) is generally flat lying and largely covered with sandy deserts, gravelly ‘gibber’ plains and tablelands that support vegetation adapted to arid conditions. The subregion also has river and creek systems that only flow occasionally and form gently sloped valleys. Wind-derived sand dunes also provide notable variations in topography. The northern and western margins of the Pedirka Basin are defined by highlands and plateaux.

The Pedirka subregion falls within both the NT and SA, with a larger portion situated within the NT. The area in which the Pedirka subregion occurs is sparsely populated. Finke (Aputula) is the largest settlement with an estimated population of 240 people, with the remaining population spread between pastoral homesteads and Indigenous outstations. The Traditional Owners and custodians within the region include the Lower Southern Arrente, Andegerebenha, and Wangkangurru peoples.

Pastoral enterprise is the predominant land use in the region, with tourism also being important. A number of Indigenous free holdings can be found in the vicinity of the Pedirka subregion in the NT, while a large portion of the north-western Pedirka subregion is vacant Crown Land. The SA portion of the subregion is covered by the Witjira National Park, the Simpson Desert Recreational Reserve, and pastoral stations.

The lack of surface water resources requires that groundwater is used as the principal water supply for the subregion, with the vast majority of this water sourced from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). The climate of the Pedirka subregion is arid; rainfall being infrequent and reliant on northern-derived monsoonal precipitation.