2.3 What our community told us

2.3.1 Community Values

In the values survey completed by 122 participants, the three top values identified were: • Healthy aquatic ecosystems • Visual amenity • Cultural and spiritual value.

Thematic analysis of responses at our community workshops found the following key themes:

Environmental Values: “water is life”

• River Health: healthy aquatic and riparian ecosystems and good water quality underpin all other uses. • Plants and wildlife – biodiverse habitats for the full suite of flora and fauna communities.

Social Values: “it’s my happy place”

• Sensory experiences: connecting to nature in wild spaces. • Sanctuary and peace. • Stories and history –cultural connections to the river and estuary for the Aboriginal community and settlers across multiple generations. • Great Outdoors – recreational use for fun, fitness and well-being.

Economic Values: “the river provides”

• Livelihoods: The Manning is a “working river” supporting primary production – oysters, dairy and beef. “Water is life... we share the river as a central part of the wild ecosystem that provides habitat for us and all wildlife from iconic animals to tiniest microbes.”

“Connecting to nature and myself, watching and experiencing animal and plant life, amazing sunsets, moon-rises and skies!”

“There’s a deep sense of history – childhood days, parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents who have farmed this land, lived, worked and relaxed along the river.”

Values Map

When participants were invited to participate in a value mapping exercise, by far the most frequently selected areas were the estuary and the coast. This matches with the higher population density in the estuary. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between values selected for the upper catchment and values for the estuary and coast. People swim and enjoy boating (including kayaking) throughout the catchment. They value the riffles and pools of the headwaters and the sheer immensity of the estuary. Figure 12 shows the values map for the Manning River catchment. Community values for our waterways guide the water quality standards we need to meet to support those values. The values map developed for the ECMP builds on earlier work by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), which established the NSW Water Quality Objectives. These are the agreed environmental values and long-term goals for NSW’s surface waters. They set out: • the community’s values and uses for our rivers, creeks, estuaries and lakes (ie healthy aquatic life, water suitable for recreational activities like swimming and boating, and drinking water); and • a range of water quality indicators to help us assess whether the current condition of our waterways supports those values and uses. Water Quality Objectives set for Fresh and Estuarine surface waters have been used in the Monitoring and Evaluation program for the Manning River ECMP You can see the original values map at https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Manning/caag.htm An updated version is currently in production by the NSW Government will be available later in 2021.

Photo: participants at a values workshop at Manning Regional Art Gallery