NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys

The social benefits monitoring and research project sits under Initiative 8 of the Marine Estate Management Strategy. A key component of this project was the development of a Community Wellbeing Framework (the Framework).

The Framework aims to provide a consistent and robust approach to monitoring the community benefits of the marine estate and threats to these benefits and to fill key social, cultural and economic knowledge gaps identified in the statewide Threat and Risk Assessment (statewide TARA).

The Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys are the first application of the Framework. The surveys provide valuable insight into our coastline from Coastal Residents, Youth and Visitors. Using the responses to the surveys, we can track the benefits, threats, and trends in community wellbeing over time.

These surveys are the first of their kind, providing an ongoing platform for the views of the NSW community to be heard and addressing the Government’s commitment to the triple-bottom-line approach to the management of the NSW marine estate.

Why is this project important?

Historically, there has been no systematic monitoring of the social dimensions of the NSW marine estate. Such monitoring is essential to realising the vision of the Marine Estate Management Authority (and the associated Marine Integrated Monitoring Program).

The surveys allow us to monitor the social dimensions of the NSW marine estate. We need to understand this to address the priority threats and risks facing the NSW marine estate.

As key users of the marine estate, it is essential for the community’s voice to be heard so we can understand how they value the marine estate and listen to their views on perceived threats and their perception of the management of the marine estate. The community wellbeing surveys provide a strong evidence base for management decision-making.

What are we doing?

Collecting data on benefits, and threats to these benefits every 3 years, helps us track spatial and temporal trends in community wellbeing associated with the marine estate.

The surveys targeted three key audiences:

• NSW coastal residents
• NSW coastal youth (aged 14-17 years old)
• coastal visitors (from within NSW and from other states)

The surveys will be repeated in 2024 and trends assessed against the 2021 results.

What have we achieved so far?

We have developed a methodology for long-term monitoring of spatial and temporal trends in community wellbeing associated with the marine estate.

We have engaged with over 4000 residents and visitors (including teenagers) to collect baseline data on community wellbeing.

We have developed community wellbeing summary reports for coastal residents, visitors, youth and 7 coastal NSW region factsheets.

What we found:

Our health. Our Coast.

• Coastal residents and youth are frequent users of the NSW coast. The most popular uses include going to the beach, picnicking, sightseeing, visiting coastal cafes and land-based exercise.
• The NSW coast is a highly important factor in contributing to coastal residents, visitors and youth quality of life.
• Key factors around why the NSW coast contributes to quality of life are directly related to the environmental qualities of the coast, recreation opportunities, and facilitate improved emotional, mental and physical health.

Our coast. Our legacy.

• Coastal residents and youth reported a high level of connection to the NSW coast. Pride in living on the coast was the strongest area of connection.
• Passing on a healthy coast to future generations is perceived as the most important aspect for managing the NSW coast.
• Many respondents feel a sense of responsibility for maintaining the coastline and participate in marine estate stewardship activities.

Impacts to our wellbeing. Impacts to our marine estate.

• Threats that have the greatest current impact on community experience include litter on shorelines or in the water, overcrowding, illegal behaviour or activities, impacts of climate change, loss of natural habitat and decline in wildlife to appreciate.
• These threats impact people’s experience of the NSW coast by affecting their connection with nature, impacting emotional and mental health and enjoyment of the coast.

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Survey Summary Reports:

• NSW Coastal Residents of NSW Summary Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 1877.64 KB)
• NSW Visitors to Coastal NSW (Wave 1) (PDF, 1705.29 KB)
• NSW Coastal Youth of NSW (Wave 1) (PDF, 2039.42 KB)

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys – fact sheets that summarise key findings for each region.

• NSW Coastal Residents Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 5281.21 KB)
• Visitors to Coastal NSW Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 4537.15 KB)
• NSW Coastal Youth of NSW Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 3460.88 KB)

Resources for Communication and Community Engagement

This toolkit will support you to understand the Community Wellbeing Surveys and its key findings. You will find key messages and resources to support in person and online communication and community engagement.

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys - Toolkit for Communication and Community Engagement. (PDF, 718.29 KB)

*Instagram tiles for download and use in 'more information' section of this page.

• NSW Coastal Residents of NSW Summary Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 1877.64 KB)
• NSW Visitors to Coastal NSW (Wave 1) (PDF, 1705.29 KB)
• NSW Coastal Youth of NSW (Wave 1) (PDF, 2039.42 KB)

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys – Fact sheets that summarise key findings for each region

• North Coast (Upper) (PDF, 487.74 KB)
• North Coast (Lower) (PDF, 517.66 KB)
• Hunter (PDF, 618.41 KB)
• Central Coast (PDF, 510.79 KB)
• Greater Sydney (Coastal) (PDF, 548.92 KB)
• South East Coast (Upper) (PDF, 539.64 KB)
• South East Coast (Lower) (PDF, 545.41 KB)

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Survey Technical Reports

Provide detailed methodology and analyses including details on the results on regional and sub-group (including age and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) analysis.

• NSW Coastal Residents Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 5281.21 KB)
• Visitors to Coastal NSW Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 4537.15 KB)
• NSW Coastal Youth of NSW Technical Report (Wave 1) (PDF, 3460.88 KB)

Resources for Communication and Community Engagement

This toolkit will support you to understand the Community Wellbeing Surveys and its key findings. You will find key messages and resources to support in person and online communication and community engagement.

NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Surveys - Toolkit for Communication and Community Engagement. (PDF, 718.29 KB)

Instagram tiles for download and use. Right click, save as. These tiles are part of the Community Wellbeing toolkit above.