Study highlights Clarence Valley community’s key issues

The data was collected through a community survey conducted during the 2023 NSW State Election in partnership with the Clarence Catchment Alliance. Community members were asked to complete a one-page survey to share their perspectives on local land uses and challenges. These were identified as important by stakeholders in a survey design workshop that included representatives from local community groups and the mining industry.

More than 1,000 responses were obtained with the aim of providing sound information for policymakers regarding community perspectives on several industries operating or seeking to develop in the Clarence Valley.

Project lead, Dr Hanabeth Luke, said the preliminary results indicate strong community appreciation of the natural environment of the area.

“97 per cent of people said healthy rivers and waterways were absolutely critical for them, followed closely by water security and maintaining habitats and biodiversity,” Dr Luke said.

“There is clearly such a strong connection for people in this region to the Clarence River. There is a broad diversity of industries through the Clarence Catchment that rely on that river system, from farming to fisheries. It’s also a beautiful river and this study shows that people really appreciate that beauty.”

The survey also addressed perspectives on the operation of local industries including coal seam gas, mineral mining and native forest harvesting. Community members expressed significant opposition to coal seam gas development (80%); housing development on floodplains (78%); mineral mining development (72%); and native forest harvesting on public lands (69%).

“There is some really important information here for local council and also the state government,” Dr Luke said.

“More than 85 per cent of survey respondents said that community input into land use planning is really important to them. That’s a really strong message for our policymakers. People want to be able to participate in those decisions that are going to shape their lives and their landscapes.”

Dr Luke said community support can have a strong influence on industry operations.

“If communities don’t have a say in designing their own future or a say in major land use change, previous experience with the coal seam gas industry in this region shows how a lack of community support can be costly, slowing project timelines and even permanently halting the progress of an entire industry in a region.

“When you’re wanting to undertake new industrial development in a region, it is really important to understand if there is strong community opposition and get a sense of whether it will be socially viable to proceed with that development.”

The research project forms part of Southern Cross University’s Catchments, Coasts and Communities research cluster, which aims to drive new and critical strategies around land and water management.

“This brings that community piece of the puzzle into sharp focus. What are the concerns and expectations of our regional communities? What issues are they are facing? And from a science perspective, what kind of research is meaningful to communities in our region?” Dr Luke said.

“This project demonstrates that the work of this research group on land management, rivers and waterways is absolutely critical to the future of our catchments.”

Read the data summary here: Community Perspectives of Key Industries in the Clarence Valley