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Clarence Valley Council community views

The Community Views team surveyed 218 residents from Area A in November 2024.

Resources
Views.id platform tour
About the Living in Place community survey
Understanding Health and Wellbeing
Understanding Housing
Understanding Transport Infrastructure
Understanding Social Infrastructure
Understanding Financial Wellbeing and Economic Confidence
Insights workshop slides - 2024
Key findings video - 2024
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Area A in Clarence Valley Council

Area A is made up of South Grafton, Grafton, Clarenza, Seelands, Waterview Heights, Rushforth, Junction Hill, Trenayr, Eatonsville, Great Marlow, Carrs Creek, Elland, Koolkhan, Glenugie, Carrs Peninsula, Bom Bom, and Southgate.

Living in Area A

Area A Overall Liveability Index
Clarence Valley Council
61.2
Area B
62.2
Area C
63.7
Area D
59.9
Collected November 2024

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Area A Overall Liveability Index

Area A Overall Liveability Index 60.0

Clarence Valley Council Overall Liveability Index

Clarence Valley Council Overall Liveability Index 61.2

Area A
Clarence Valley Council
Importance
Experience
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
60%
7.8
65%
8.3
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
58%
5.9
59%
6.8
Health services
Importance
Experience
51%
5.3
51%
4.8
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
47%
5.0
45%
4.7
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
45%
6.6
48%
7.0
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
34%
4.8
30%
4.7
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
32%
5.2
30%
5.1
Education
Importance
Experience
26%
5.4
22%
5.2
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
24%
5.9
24%
6.2
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
23%
5.7
20%
5.9
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
19%
6.5
17%
6.2
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
18%
7.1
25%
6.9
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
17%
5.3
15%
5.5
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
17%
7.3
13%
7.0
Public transport
Importance
Experience
15%
5.2
16%
4.5
Making your way
Importance
Experience
15%
6.8
20%
6.4
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Health and Wellbeing in Area A

Physical Health
How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Area A (n = 218)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
16%
53%
32%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
15%
55%
29%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Mental Health
How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Area A (n = 218)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
8%
71%
21%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
7%
71%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Social wellbeing
How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Area A (n = 218)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
7.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
10%
70%
20%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
8%
71%
21%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Area A

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Area A (n = 218)
5.8
Very poor
Excellent
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
6.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
20%
58%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
18%
60%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 503)
Always late
2%
1%
Often late
7%
6%
Sometimes late
27%
27%
Never late
64%
67%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
42%
48%
9%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
38%
52%
10%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Area A

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
It's happening, caused entirely/mostly by human activities
34%
34%
It's happening, caused equally by human and natural
34%
36%
It's happening, caused entirely/mostly by natural causes
9%
11%
It's happening, not sure what is causing it
11%
7%
I don't believe climate change is happening
12%
13%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 59% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 26% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 2% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 41% somewhat confident. 53% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 453)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
59%
55%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
26%
32%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
15%
13%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 384)
Very confident
2%
4%
Somewhat confident
41%
37%
Not very confident
37%
38%
Not at all confident
15%
16%
Don't know
5%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Flooding (88%), Bushfires (84%) and Extreme heat (81%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (61%), Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals) (57%) and Reduce pollution of the environment (56%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 373)
Flooding
88%
87%
Bushfires
84%
81%
Extreme heat
81%
71%
Storms
71%
72%
Droughts
60%
54%
Severe wind
34%
40%
Other
14%
27%
Extremely cold temperatures
12%
8%
Cyclones
8%
12%
Landslide
7%
7%
None of these
4%
3%
Earthquakes
1%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 384)
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
61%
62%
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
57%
62%
Reduce pollution of the environment
56%
52%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
48%
54%
Adopt renewable energy sources
45%
46%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
44%
47%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
44%
50%
Encourage residents to buy locally
41%
41%
Create renewable energy sources
37%
35%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
35%
39%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
33%
31%
The use of more sustainable transport options
26%
27%
Other
7%
7%
None of these
6%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 44% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 40% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 9% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 60% somewhat confident. 26% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 453)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
46%
44%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
39%
40%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
15%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 367)
Very confident
9%
10%
Somewhat confident
60%
60%
Not very confident
23%
24%
Not at all confident
3%
3%
Don't know
4%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc) (88%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (58%) and Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport) (37%). 47% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 22% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 367)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
88%
82%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
58%
58%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
37%
47%
Loss or damage to your home/property
36%
39%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
34%
37%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
33%
39%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
30%
24%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
28%
34%
Reduction in air quality
27%
25%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
20%
25%
Reduced value to your home/property
20%
21%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
19%
25%
Other
4%
3%
None of these
0%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 367)
It will improve a lot
1%
1%
It will improve somewhat
7%
6%
It will not change
13%
15%
It will reduce somewhat
47%
49%
It will reduce a lot
22%
20%
Don't know
9%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns & ideas in Area A

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Inflation/Cost of Living
46%
50%
Housing/Price of Housing
45%
43%
Law & order
38%
27%
Healthcare/Hospitals
35%
42%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
33%
23%
Unemployment
21%
16%
The Economy
15%
14%
Poverty/Inequality
14%
11%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
12%
11%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
9%
13%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
8%
6%
Education
5%
6%
Taxation
4%
3%
Environmental Concerns
4%
10%
Race Relations/Racism
4%
3%
Transport
4%
10%
Population/Overpopulation
1%
11%
Immigration
0%
1%
Defence
0%
0%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Natural Disaster Preparedness in Area A

How concerned are you about bushfires impacting you and your family?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
1 - Not at all concerned
8%
8%
2
13%
10%
3
28%
26%
4
27%
25%
5- Very concerned
24%
31%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How concerned are you about floods impacting you and your family?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
1 - Not at all concerned
7%
7%
2
6%
9%
3
20%
18%
4
31%
29%
5- Very concerned
36%
37%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How concerned are you about severe storms impacting you and your family?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
1 - Not at all concerned
3%
2%
2
6%
8%
3
27%
27%
4
32%
31%
5- Very concerned
32%
32%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How prepared do you feel for bushfires?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Not at all prepared
13%
8%
Not very prepared
19%
22%
Quite prepared
48%
53%
Very prepared
11%
12%
Unsure
8%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How prepared do you feel for floods?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Not at all prepared
12%
11%
Not very prepared
19%
21%
Quite prepared
41%
45%
Very prepared
23%
19%
Unsure
6%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How prepared do you feel for severe storms?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Not at all prepared
9%
8%
Not very prepared
27%
26%
Quite prepared
44%
52%
Very prepared
13%
9%
Unsure
7%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Have you taken any action(s) to prepare your household for a bushfire in the last two years?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Downloaded the “fires near me” app
53%
61%
Maintained a clear area around your home
47%
56%
Cleared gutters of leaf litter
38%
47%
Cut back trees or cleaned up debris
33%
39%
Bought insurance or checked your insurance
23%
31%
Created a home emergency kit
22%
23%
Developed a bushfire survival and evacuation plan
19%
26%
Installed longer hoses
18%
22%
Installed a water tank
17%
21%
None of these
16%
13%
Installed solar or purchased a generator
15%
26%
Installed gutter guards
12%
12%
Installed screens or seals around windows and doors
8%
11%
Enclosed areas under the house
6%
6%
Repaired roof or gaps in external walls
3%
6%
Other
3%
3%
Attached a fire sprinkler system to gutters
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Have you taken any action(s) to prepare your household for a flood in the last two years?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
None of these
39%
36%
Sought information about floods to know your risk
39%
38%
Developed a flood plan, including when to evacuate and where
24%
25%
Bought new insurance or checked your existing insurance
21%
23%
Created a home emergency kit
18%
18%
Other
6%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Have you taken any action(s) to prepare your household for a severe storm in the last two years?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Cleared trees or debris around your house
40%
46%
Sought information about severe storms to know your risk
26%
24%
None of these
26%
22%
Bought new insurance or checked your existing insurance
24%
26%
Created a home emergency kit with critical supplies
18%
19%
Developed a plan for what to do in a severe storm
16%
19%
Invested in power supply back up
9%
19%
Other
4%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Council Roles and Responsibilities in Area A

Which of the following services would you like to see Clarence Valley Council advocating for to help us progress towards our Vision?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Health services (e.g. hospitals, doctors, specialists, etc.)
57%
62%
Social services (e.g. counselling, youth services, disability services, family and child services, etc.)
44%
36%
Public housing
38%
31%
Economic development services (e.g. supporting local businesses, attracting investment, etc.)
35%
28%
Law enforcement (e.g. police, courts, corrections)
34%
32%
Education opportunities (e.g. schools, kindergartens, universities, adult education, etc.)
25%
24%
Public utilities (e.g. water, gas, electricity, phone/internet, waste disposal, etc.)
20%
21%
Emergency services (e.g. ambulance, fire, SES, etc.)
18%
27%
Environment services (e.g. sewage, water management services, etc.)
14%
18%
Transport infrastructure and services (e.g. trains, buses, stations, etc.)
8%
14%
Cultural services (e.g. museums, galleries, libraries, etc.)
7%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How satisfied do you personally feel towards the region’s efforts to support and build capacity of the region’s First Nations communities?
Area A (n = 218)
Clarence Valley Council 2024 (n = 526)
Very satisfied
14%
13%
Somewhat satisfied
17%
16%
Neutral
39%
42%
Somewhat dissatisfied
11%
10%
Very dissatisfied
6%
8%
Don’t know
12%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower