Primary industries play an important role in food security and exports. They are the sixth biggest employer in the region but make a significantly higher contribution to Gross Regional Product when compared to the healthcare, retail and hospitality sectors (DPC 2018). The Manning regional economy is intrinsically linked to the natural values of the catchment and estuary. Industries directly dependent on environmental values include agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, forestry and tourism. Combined, these industries contribute gross revenue of $817 million per annum to the wider MidCoast Region, with agriculture and tourism both injecting over $210 million per annum each as shown in Table 1. The tourism industry across the whole MidCoast region is valued at $211.4 million each year, employing up to 1500 full-time equivalent employees. Visitors spend about $31 million per year. The combined gross revenue these industries contribute to the MidCoast economy is $817 million per annum, as shown in Table 1 (Saphere Group 2018). The dependence of these sectors on heathy land and water is recognised in the MidCoast Regional Economic Development Strategy (2018).
Industry
Gross Revenue (per annum)
Agriculture (dairy, beef, sheep)
$217.048 million (MCC area)
Forestry
$10.134 million (MCC area)
Tourism
$211.4 million (Manning Catchment 2014) $570.4 million (MCC area)
Aquaculture & fishing
$19.816 million (MCC area)
Total
$817.398 million (MCC area)
Table 1: Gross revenue of major industries in the MidCoast Region Reference: MidCoast Regional Economic Development Strategy 2018-2022
“ Sustain and support the fishing industry. The fish co-op in Taree is all local – prawns and fish from our river, sold to our local community.” Noel Piercy, ECMP Reference Group
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Manning River Estuary and Catchment Management Program (ECMP)
Photo: Clem Collier