cca allies
a stronger alliance
Since 2018 the CCA has formed broader “alliances” with other groups that work to protect and care for the community, water and the environment. The organisations listed below share the Clarence community’s stance on mining in the area to protect its water and rivers and have pledged their support of the CCA’s mission. Their statements can be read under each of their logos.
United solidarity and like-minded community, tackling issues with purpose, makes us stronger, better equipped, supported, and prepared to stand up for what’s right. It is every community’s right to clean water and together we provide voices for those who cannot speak - our rivers, oceans, country, and species.
The CCA thanks our wonderful, selfless, hardworking allies for the work they do for the environment and local communities, and the invaluable mentorship and friendships formed over the years.
If your group would like to become an “OFFICIAL CCA ALLY” please fill in the form below. We can’t wait to collaborate. LET’S CONNECT AND PROTECT!
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Without healthy waterways, our environment suffers. So do all the animals, the economy, our children, and ourselves. Thriving oceans and rivers sustain my family’s way of life, this is our connection to the country and each other. Placing a mine at the headwaters of the Clarence is a risk not worth taking. This project does not benefit the community or the traditional custodians of the country. It does not help the wildlife, nor does it boost the economy. The coastlines of Yaegl Country are pristine, let keep them that way. Belinda Baggs, Co-Founder and Director.
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The Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition (CVCC) is a community group based in the Clarence Valley. Formed in 1988, the CVCC has been involved with environmental issues – both locally and beyond – since that time. It has had a long-term interest in water and its management and the maintenance of river health in our local area and further afield, and mining and its impact on the natural environment and local communities. Mining in the Clarence catchment threatens the ecological health of the Clarence River and the many industries which rely on the river system’s continued health (including agriculture, fishing, and tourism) as well as the security of the drinking water for Clarence Valley urban areas and Coffs Harbour. The Clarence River is of vital spiritual significance to our First Nations people. It is also highly valued by the general Clarence community and is an important part of the community’s lifestyle. The strength of community support for the Clarence River system has been shown by the Clarence Valley Council’s call for a moratorium on mining in the catchment as well as by the community response to the Clarence Catchment Alliance’s petition to the NSW Parliament. Leonie Blain Hon Secretary.
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The Clarence Valley in Northern NSW is the eastern gateway to Australia's food bowl and the southern gateway to the Northern Rivers. The agri-food economy generates over $746 million dollars in GRP while mining sees only $7 million. 3,987 people are employed in the agri-food economy while 37 are employed in mining. There are 1018 agri-food business and only 15 mining businesses. The Clarence Valley heritage industries of timber, dairy, seafood, cattle, and sugar cane have been in production for over 175 years. There are 230 registered fishermen making the Clarence River the largest combined fishing fleet in NSW. 2257 registered farms contribute over $4 million in rates to Council. 561 farmers call the Clarence Valley home. Mining is not an option nor is it a collaborative partner because of its potential to poison and pollute the waterways needed for the agri-food economy. Debrah Novak - Chairperson Clarence Valley Food Inc.
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This letter outlines the Yamba Chamber of Commerce's strong objection to the commencement of open-cut mineral mining in the Clarence River catchment areas. The potential for contamination and degradation of the waterways of the Clarence Valley is a risk that simply can not be taken. Yamba’s economic future depends on healthy waterways and a vibrant ocean. Tourism is the dominant sector in Yamba. The wider Northern Rivers region is home to around 300,000 people with a GRP of $13.305 billion (2.3% of the state), damage to the river will impact a range of sectors and have ramifications state-wide. Rivers are extremely important to the biodiversity of coastal regions, open cut mining along riverbeds could have a catastrophic effect on this biodiversity which would in turn have a devastating effect on the wider environment. It is the vehement view of the Yamba Chamber of Commerce that this mining operation should not be permitted to go ahead. The long-term negative effect on the tourism economy of the Clarence Valley as well as the environmental damage that is risked by these operations can not in good conscience be allowed.
Regards, James Allan, President of Yamba Chamber of Commerce
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NSW Member for the seat of Lismore, Janelle Saffin, tabled an eleven thousand plus signature petition to the NSW House of Reps on behalf of the Clarence Catchment Alliance (CCA), asking that an immediate embargo be placed on all mining in the Clarence Valley. The Clarence Environment Centre Inc, a volunteer organisation that has maintained a shopfront presence in Grafton for the past 32 years, fully supports the petition and adds its call for a halt to mining exploration in the Clarence River Catchment. At the same time, we urge that consideration be given to introducing similar embargos within all major urban drinking water supply catchments across NSW. The Clarence River is the largest river system on Australia’s eastern seaboard, and the lifeblood of the entire valley, providing an environment that supports one of, if not the largest commercial fisheries on Australia’s east coast. Our agricultural and horticultural sectors are likewise dependent on the river’s bounty which includes sugar, macadamia nuts, and a wide range of horticultural products including blueberries. Tourists visit the region from all over the world, lured by the pristine nature of our wild rivers for white-water rafting and recreational fishing. Our famous World Heritage Gondwanan rainforests, sparkling sand, and surfing beaches, all essential to this major contributor to the local economy, could all be placed at risk if a worst-case scenario from a mining accident were to occur. For the three first nations peoples that historically have shared the valley, the river is central to their ‘dreaming’, and folklore, and should be preserved for posterity. The region is also recognised worldwide as one of the globe’s great biodiversity hotspots, with the Clarence Valley lying at the very centre of the “MacPherson – Macleay Overlap”. This is a region blessed with a climate that allows species from the subtropics to flourish alongside species from more temperate regions, a phenomenon that exists, not only on land but also in the marine environment where corals and seagrasses are found coexisting in the warm currents that flow past our shores. While mining is essential to Australia’s ongoing prosperity, we believe that any attempt to undertake it safely in the rugged mountainous Clarence Valley hinterland, with its high annual rainfall, would be fraught with danger, and any mining accident which, unfortunately, happens all too frequently, could prove to be disastrous to the valley. John Edwards Honorary Secretary
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The Surfrider Foundation Australia stands behind the Clarence Catchment Alliance and the work they are doing to preserve the natural beauty and flow of the Clarence River. The idea of industrialising the river and its catchment by allowing mining in its headwaters not only risks the natural state of the river itself but also the livelihoods and lifestyles of locals downriver. Mining run-off and pollution upriver will inevitably find its way down to the coast at Yamba, an area the surfer culture – and the Surfrider Foundation – see as sacred ground.
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In May 2021 we took a trip to Clarence Gorge to paddle the river and better assess the size of the mine site and its proximity to the river. Seeing the proposed mine site in person, it was immediately clear how quickly the by-products of this open-cut mine would flow into the waters of the Clarence and beyond. We strongly suggest an alternative site location. This mine would forever change the landscape of those ranges, as well as the river health, agricultural viability, and tourism prospects downstream. We have seen otherwise clean rivers turn orange after open-cut mines have been opened in their foothills. It is not just the unnatural colour that perturbs us, it is the mineral runoff and its detrimental impact on our riparian and marine life (and the surrounding human systems) that concerns us... Let’s not let the Clarence run orange.
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Valley Watch is a not-for-profit environment group which has been operating in the Lower Clarence Catchment for over 30 years. Since it’s inception Valley Watch has maintained a presence at Yamba Markets keeping the local community and visitors up to date with current environmental programs, issues, funding, and providing education and awareness to ensure we maintain the health and sustainability of our floodplain. In the past two years we have supported Clarence Catchment Alliance by assisting keeping the community informed and updated about mining exploration licences in the Clarence River catchment. Our market stall has provided maps, information, stickers and a platform to sign a petition. The petition has been signed by approximately 10800 people and we take pride that many of those signatures came from discussions facilitated at Yamba markets. The support and awareness from the public over this time has been enormous. We have witnessed people come directly to our market stall seeking to sign the petition with no discussion needed. Many others, including generational long-term visitors to the area, have taken the time to converse, peruse maps provided, and offer their support in protecting our catchment from mining, particularly that of copper and cobalt. Public statements from our ill-informed local representative denigrating the petition and The Clarence Catchment Alliance were met with anger from many and we strongly dispute his arguments. The bond with humanity and our waterways, particularly The Mighty Clarence is strong and any threats, which potentially could have detrimental effects on the health of the Clarence and its delta have met with firm opposition. Our river supports life and employment for many valuable existing industries such as farming, fishing, and tourism, and has enormous environmental value. Allowing mining industries so close to our Mighty Clarence which is regularly inundated with high rainfall events, poses unacceptable risks to not only these existing industries but to our drinking water - the potential for overtopping or failure of containment dams is a major concern. Protection of our waterways is the most important environmental aspect for the future of our planet. The Mann River, a tributary of the Clarence, was badly affected by Cangai copper mining 100 years ago. Mining threats today will be on a much larger scale and thus the potential for damage is greater. Remember the Timbarra gold mine incident!! The endangered Clarence River (Eastern) Cod is likely to become a relic. The ‘Precautionary Principle’ must be brought into play here. Mining in river catchments anywhere is 3rd world frontier thinking….we deserve better than that these days!
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My name is Phil Moore. I have lived in Yamba, at the mouth of the Clarence River, for 26 years now. For the past five years, I have been running Yamba Kayak. My business caters to tourists and locals alike, getting people with little to no experience out kayaking on the mighty Clarence River. At Yamba Kayak we are against mining in the Clarence Valley as whatever happens up the top of the river ends up at the bottom of the river, where we run our business. If the Clarence River were to become polluted from mining upstream my business would struggle. It would also negatively affect my family and my lifestyle. Clean water is essential to this area and my business. The clean water brings tourists to Yamba and the marine life is abundant which makes the kayaking experience a rewarding and enjoyable one. If mining were to go ahead on or near the Clarence River and it became contaminated it would destroy our business as well as hundreds of other tourism-related businesses in Yamba and along the river. I support our community's request for a moratorium on mining to protect our river, environment& tourism industry.
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My name is Shayne Sutherland, and I am a local resident, community member, business owner, and wave enthusiast. I support a call for a moratorium on mineral mining in the Clarence Catchment. In 2016 I started Surf Camp Downunder Yamba. We offer surfing lessons to locals and tourists, a surf school for local high school students with special needs, Indigenous days, grom squads, and holiday camps among many other programs and initiatives. I am in the water every day, it is an integral part of my leisure, health, wellbeing and livelihood. Where I surf mainly and conduct my business is near the mouth of the mighty Clarence River, so it is essential that the water systems upstream remain clean and free from toxic runoff of mining. Having clean water and a healthy environment is essential to continue to attract tourism to this area and ensure the continuing wellbeing of our community. I say no to mining in the Clarence Valley and yes to a clean and healthy river system and ocean.
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My family and I are owners of The Peach Farm situated in the beautiful Clarence Valley. We grow peaches, nectarines, and other food crops. We are an agri-tourism business with an emphasis on regenerative farming and education. We employ up to 25 locals throughout the year, offer a ‘pick-your-own’ experience, are 100% off-grid, recycle 95% of our onsite waste ethically, and buy local and fresh produce. Water is the primary foundation of not only our business initiative but also the welfare of our family and the farmers surrounding us! Mining is not an option; it would be devastating to the well-being and future of our diverse economy and ecosystem. We strongly oppose any mining in our valley! Keep the Clarence Valley the “Super Food Bowl” of NSW and a major contributor to the agri-food economy. Sincerely Raymond and Edwina Cameron.
