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The Community Views team surveyed 180 residents from Rural in October 2025.

Rural in Rockhampton Regional Council

Rural is made up of Gracemere, Mount Morgan, Alton Downs, Bouldercombe, Gogango, Fairy Bower, Bajool, Ridgelands, Struck Oil, Stanwell, Garnant, Port Curtis, Pink Lily, Marmor, Horse Creek, Glenroy, Kabra, Bushley, Oakey Creek, Morinish, Dalma, and Hamilton Creek.

Living in Rural in October 2025

Rural Overall Liveability Index
Rockhampton Regional Council
56.4
Urban North East
55.8
Urban North West
56.4
Urban South
57.9
Collected October 2025

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

Rural Overall Liveability Index

Rural Overall Liveability Index 56.1

Rockhampton Regional Council Overall Liveability Index

Rockhampton Regional Council Overall Liveability Index 56.4

Rural
Rockhampton Regional Council
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
75%
5.0
76%
4.8
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
56%
6.7
48%
7.1
Health services
Importance
Experience
49%
5.2
52%
5.4
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
49%
4.7
53%
4.7
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
44%
6.1
34%
5.7
Making your way
Importance
Experience
34%
6.1
29%
6.2
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
31%
6.3
25%
5.7
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
24%
4.9
28%
5.6
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
23%
5.1
29%
5.7
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
22%
6.0
20%
6.0
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
21%
5.8
17%
6.2
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
18%
6.2
20%
5.9
Education
Importance
Experience
16%
5.7
23%
6.5
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
14%
5.3
17%
5.4
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
13%
6.2
13%
6.8
Public transport
Importance
Experience
11%
4.6
17%
4.8
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 Rural in October 2025

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?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
6.6
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
14%
61%
24%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
15%
55%
30%
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?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
10%
67%
23%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
11%
63%
26%
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?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
6.6
Very poor
Excellent
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
11%
72%
17%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
10%
70%
20%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Rural in October 2025

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?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
5.6
Very poor
Excellent
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
5.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
25%
55%
21%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
23%
50%
27%
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?
Rural 2025 (n = 169)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 772)
Always late
1%
1%
Often late
8%
6%
Sometimes late
33%
32%
Never late
58%
61%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
47%
42%
11%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
47%
43%
10%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Rural in October 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by human activities
26%
28%
Climate change is happening and is caused equally by human activities and natural causes
25%
32%
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
15%
13%
Climate change is happening, but I am not sure what is causing it
9%
8%
I do not believe climate change is happening
25%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 45% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 33% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 4% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 50% somewhat confident. 39% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
Rural 2025 (n = 134)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 656)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
45%
43%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
33%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
22%
20%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Rural 2025 (n = 98)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 513)
Very confident
4%
3%
Somewhat confident
50%
45%
Not very confident
30%
33%
Not at all confident
9%
13%
Don't know
6%
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: Extreme heat (81%), Bushfires (74%) and Droughts (58%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals) (63%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (58%) and Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.) (48%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Rural 2025 (n = 98)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 513)
Extreme heat
81%
87%
Bushfires
74%
68%
Droughts
58%
53%
Storms
51%
49%
Flooding
49%
54%
Cyclones
31%
48%
Severe wind
23%
21%
Extremely cold temperatures
10%
10%
Sea level rise
8%
13%
Other
7%
4%
None of these
5%
3%
Earthquakes
5%
5%
Landslide
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Rural 2025 (n = 98)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 513)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
63%
61%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
58%
59%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
48%
49%
Reduce pollution of the environment
43%
51%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
42%
48%
Adopt renewable energy sources
37%
40%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
34%
41%
Encourage residents to buy locally
34%
35%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
33%
34%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
32%
37%
The use of more sustainable transport options
30%
35%
Create renewable energy sources
24%
34%
None of these
6%
3%
Other
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 27% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 49% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 14% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 63% somewhat confident. 18% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
Rural 2025 (n = 134)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 656)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
27%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
49%
43%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
24%
20%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Rural 2025 (n = 94)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 511)
Very confident
14%
8%
Somewhat confident
63%
60%
Not very confident
17%
22%
Not at all confident
1%
7%
Don't know
5%
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) (83%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (59%) and My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.) (38%). 49% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 15% 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?
Rural 2025 (n = 94)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 511)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
83%
85%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
59%
61%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
38%
38%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
32%
32%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
31%
32%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
30%
38%
Reduction in air quality
28%
27%
Loss or damage to your home/property
27%
28%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
23%
28%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
21%
26%
Reduced value to your home/property
19%
13%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
16%
20%
None of these
5%
2%
Other
1%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Rural 2025 (n = 94)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 511)
It will improve a lot
0%
1%
It will improve somewhat
10%
9%
It will not change
18%
18%
It will reduce somewhat
49%
45%
It will reduce a lot
15%
20%
Don't know
9%
7%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Rural in October 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Law & order
60%
59%
Inflation/Cost of Living
53%
52%
Housing/Price of Housing
43%
44%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
25%
29%
Healthcare/Hospitals
18%
27%
Transport
11%
8%
Environmental Concerns
11%
6%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
11%
9%
The Economy
11%
9%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
10%
8%
Unemployment
10%
7%
Taxation
8%
6%
Poverty/Inequality
8%
8%
Immigration
7%
7%
Education
5%
3%
Race Relations/Racism
3%
5%
Population/Overpopulation
3%
5%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
3%
6%
Defence
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Sustainable Behaviours and Extreme Weather in Rural in October 2025

Minimising waste through intentional purchasing decisions
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
74%
71%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
16%
20%
Not interested in doing it
10%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Minimising waste through repurposing or reusing
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
80%
79%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
16%
16%
Not interested in doing it
3%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Recycling wherever possible
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
94%
94%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
3%
4%
Not interested in doing it
3%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Composting food waste
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
54%
42%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
27%
40%
Not interested in doing it
18%
18%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Growing some food at home
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
53%
41%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
31%
43%
Not interested in doing it
16%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Choosing to buy local goods and services as much as possible
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
78%
74%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
20%
23%
Not interested in doing it
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Installing rooftop solar
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
51%
47%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
31%
35%
Not interested in doing it
18%
18%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Installing home battery storage
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
9%
8%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
58%
60%
Not interested in doing it
33%
33%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Purchasing a home generator
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
40%
23%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
37%
43%
Not interested in doing it
23%
34%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Taking steps to reduce energy use at home or work
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
78%
75%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
15%
17%
Not interested in doing it
7%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Taking steps to reduce water use at home or work
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
76%
75%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
13%
16%
Not interested in doing it
10%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Planting or maintaining a wildlife-friendly garden (e.g. native plants, insect/bird habitats)
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
67%
56%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
26%
33%
Not interested in doing it
8%
12%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Supporting local clean-up events or environmental activities
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
28%
24%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
51%
50%
Not interested in doing it
21%
26%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Using active transport regularly (e.g. walking, electric scooter, bike, public transport)
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
30%
32%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
27%
29%
Not interested in doing it
43%
40%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Using an electric vehicle
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
5%
8%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
23%
26%
Not interested in doing it
73%
67%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Reviewing insurance to find a more suitable or affordable cover
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
51%
49%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
36%
35%
Not interested in doing it
13%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Using government rebates (e.g. for solar power, electric vehicles, water tanks etc)
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
50%
41%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
31%
40%
Not interested in doing it
19%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Changing daily habits (e.g. avoiding outdoor activity during hot weather)
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
77%
79%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
10%
10%
Not interested in doing it
13%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Seeking information on how to build household resilience
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Currently doing it
39%
32%
Not doing it now, but would like to do it
44%
48%
Not interested in doing it
17%
20%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following extreme weather event preparation tasks have you undertaken?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
I know what type of extreme weather events could affect me or my property
75%
69%
I have completed maintenance activities around my house to reduce my risks
51%
46%
I understand the Australian Warning System
44%
44%
I am familiar with the resources/information available on the Emergency Dashboard
40%
36%
I have an emergency kit ready in case I need to shelter at home
33%
26%
I have created a household emergency and evacuation plan
30%
23%
My emergency evacuation plan considers any special needs that my household may have
27%
24%
I am signed up to Emergency Dashboard Alerts
24%
21%
I have talked with neighbours about how we can help each other during an emergency
15%
13%
I have practised my emergency evacuation plan
3%
5%
Other
5%
2%
None of these
10%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which “other” extreme weather event preparation task have you undertaken?

How confident are you that you are personally prepared for extreme weather events?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Very confident
24%
18%
Somewhat confident
54%
57%
Not very confident
14%
16%
Not at all confident
6%
7%
Don’t know
1%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What would be useful in supporting your community to build its resilience?
Rural 2025 (n = 180)
Rockhampton Regional Council (n = 811)
Local infrastructure improvements
59%
58%
Community education and preparedness workshops
36%
36%
Support for mental health and wellbeing
30%
35%
Youth engagement programs
27%
28%
Tailored resources
25%
26%
Support for local food security
25%
28%
Urban greening to improve shade and reduce heat
21%
27%
Support planning for adaptable, affordable, and energy-efficient housing
21%
20%
Practical guides or checklists for community groups
18%
17%
Access to resilience hubs or multi-purpose community centres
17%
18%
Cool refuges to escape the heat
16%
17%
Community-led resilience planning
15%
19%
Volunteer and local neighbour support networks
13%
11%
Community storytelling and knowledge sharing
13%
13%
Local employer engagement to build partnerships for future-ready jobs
10%
8%
Support for business continuity planning
9%
7%
Promotion of digital inclusion initiatives
1%
2%
Other
3%
2%
None of these
2%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What “other” approaches or supports do you think would be useful in supporting your community to build its resilience?