**3. Introducing—Narrabri Shire**

Narrabri Shire, in the New England North West region is one of many local government areas undergoing land use change as parts of the region re-orientate towards extractive activities [2]. Traditionally, Narrabri has been a 'dryland farming<sup>2</sup> ' region but its history has not been a static

<sup>2</sup> Dryland farming systems in Australia combine a rotation of crops, pastures and often livestock. Fallow periods are used to allow soil recovery and account for limited water supply. Australian farmers frequently have to contend with the effects of drought. In Narrabri Shire, wheat, sun flowers, canola and cotton are the dominant crops. In response to ongoing water and soil quality concerns and an increased need for sustainability, much of the cotton industry in the 2000s moved to dryland GM cotton which has greater drought tolerance.

one. Over the past 50 years, it has experienced significant land use change including the introduction of the cotton industry and then later, the advent of genetically modified (GM) cotton. Whilst these developments generated considerable concern in the community at the time, it is the more recent expansion of coal mining and CSG development in the Shire that has engendered the most conflict [2, 6]. Disputes have emerged between those who ultimately see extractive industries facilitating economic growth and diversity, and those who see these activities as a threat to the core agricultural functions upon which Narrabri Shire was founded back in 1848 [2, 6].

The research this chapter discusses, is a sample of the findings from a collaborative study carried out in Narrabri shire in 2015–2016. Narrabri shire consists of 8 towns (including Boggabri, Narrabri, Pilliga and Wee Waa—**Figure 1**), with a total—population of approximately 14,000 residents. The research used qualitative methods that set out to explore the lived experiences of individuals and community in regards to changing land use patterns. It included voluntary, face-to-face interviews with a mix of rural, village and Narrabri town residents [30]. **Figure 2** outlines the methods used for sampling and recruitment of participants.

Ultimately, Narrabri shire was chosen for this study due to its history of significant land use change, the intensification of coal mining and the emergence of CSG interests that are seen to currently challenge the traditional agricultural base of the community ([6], p. 103). Narrabri also presented an opportunity to explore the changing nature of land use contestation and the formation of new allegiances due to the fact that recent civil disobedience campaigns against energy company 'Santos' were situated there ([6], p. 103). These campaigns garnered nationwide attention as environmentalists from across Australia joined local farmers and community groups to protest against what they perceived as an unsustainable and undesirable land use change. Consequently, Narrabri shire presented a unique lens through which to explore the intricacies and complexities that exist around land use change today [2, 6, 31].

This chapter highlights several themes to emerge from this research. These are represented below under Sections 3 and 4. Overall, these articulations represent the values, perceptions,

**Figure 2.** The methodological approach.

foes—farmers and environmentalists. More than this though, the government's framing of its decision-making as in the 'public's economic interest' has led many to question its wisdom and to turn the debate into one about protectionism versus globalised trade. As influential

*"This is not just a battle about mining prime farm land or destroying fresh water or covering our land with salt or risking public health. This is about something far more damaging and dangerous: the loss of our rights as Australian citizens, the loss of basic freedoms we have always taken for granted. State and federal governments have conspired to remove our rights over the ownership of our land. They have deliberately conspired to bully, to abuse, and to force Australians into court if they don't comply with* 

Jones's comments echo the concerns of many, not just local communities, as they speak to larger issues such as loss of place, the demise of rural landscapes, environments being eroded and overall, rural places beginning to represent what Murton has referred to as 'the countryside under construction" ([25], p. 1). With extractive industries and their associated infrastructure playing a large role in this transformation, it is worth acknowledging that 'there are

As Urry ([27], p. 77) notes further, whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, 'emotions are intimately tied to place "and as such, places are prompts for often intense feelings, springboards for memories and motivators for action. Acknowledging this, is essential if serious attempts are to be made to resolve some of the more contentious issues surrounding changing

*Twenty-first century land use planning faces both an opportunity and a threat. On the one hand, it is widely counted on and expected to deliver both sustainable development and livable communities. On the other hand, it must cope with serious conflicts in the values related to these two beguiling visions, which represent the big visionary ideas of contemporary… planning. The future of land use planning may well depend on how it resolves these conflicts and creates settlement patterns that are both livable* 

In Narrabri Shire, where the focus of this chapter now shifts (**Figure 1**), government, industry and civil society have all been drawn into a conversation around land use change and the differing visions for the region's long-term future. Why and how this manifests itself on the

Narrabri Shire, in the New England North West region is one of many local government areas undergoing land use change as parts of the region re-orientate towards extractive activities [2].

Dryland farming systems in Australia combine a rotation of crops, pastures and often livestock. Fallow periods are used to allow soil recovery and account for limited water supply. Australian farmers frequently have to contend with the effects of drought. In Narrabri Shire, wheat, sun flowers, canola and cotton are the dominant crops. In response to ongoing water and soil quality concerns and an increased need for sustainability, much of the cotton industry in the

' region but its history has not been a static

deeply emotional ramifications [associated with] resource extraction" ([26], p. 1).

land uses today. As regional planners such as Godschalk ([28], p. 5) suggest:

Australian commentator Alan Jones has noted:

292 Land Use - Assessing the Past, Envisioning the Future

*and sustainable. [Italics in original].*

ground is discussed further in Section 3.

**3. Introducing—Narrabri Shire**

2

Traditionally, Narrabri has been a 'dryland farming<sup>2</sup>

2000s moved to dryland GM cotton which has greater drought tolerance.

*the demands of foreign-owned multinational mining companies" [24].*

aspirations and anxieties that form part of understanding what it is to live in rural places in NSW today.

Confirming this further, Dylan, a local farmer also suggested that:

*scenario is that it will be the death of the grazing industry in Australia.*

Richard succinctly noted; 'without water, you've got nothing' [2].

from the cotton industry suggested ([6], p. 109):

*it's the foundation. If anything goes wrong…*

suggested that the 'precautionary principle3

or irreversible damage to the environment" [38].

**3.3. Risk**

3

*no other place has got a big pool of water, millions of gigalitres of water underneath the ground. And… that's been the backbone of the grazing industry for decades. Now if that gets depleted… the worst case* 

Unlikely Alliances in the Battle for Land and Water Security: Unconventional Gas and the Politics…

The continued health of the GAB was also linked with ideas about continued agricultural and human health more broadly. Many participants in this study, like Dylan above expressed a fear that the potential impacts from new hydro-carbon activities, such as those associated with CSG, might pollute shared water resources and if this were to occur, as local consultant

In Narrabri shire, the perceptions of risk and uncertainty were particularly heightened when these issues were associated with questions about the region's long-term viability. As John

*…access to ground water is what drives the economy here. It provides a baseline or a foundation for the agricultural economy. A lot of the water is taken from other systems but the ground water is the backup,* 

The possibility of 'things going wrong' was ever present in the minds of many participants in this study ([6], p. 109). Often referring to the idea of long-term 'sustainability', participants

more readily than it was. This sense is described by authors such as Beck as the 'materiality of risk', where doubts and concerns are connected with the 'sweeping influence of science and technological change "particularly that associated in new and/or historical industries such as mining, energy production and so on ([33], pp. 4–5). He claims that perceptions of risk associated with these industries, also 'draw attention to the limited controllability "and uncertainty associated with any new or untested techniques or developments utilised ([33], p. 6). In Narrabri shire, the idea of risk and uncertainty may be visualised most clearly through the anxiety expressed about potential fracking operations and toxic by-products that may arise

*So [what happens] if any water ponds …become toxic? Drilling can sometimes flip it back into our aquifer system and that's very dangerous. I think we haven't got enough scientific evidence to prove that what I'm suggesting won't happen. That's how it is with this industry, the worst case scenario is* 

This lack of certainty around the integrity of infrastructure, would appear to also be strongly connected with the idea of how water (both fresh and discharged) is currently being managed and how it is to be managed to avoid potential contamination into the future and in relation to possible flood or high rainfall events. Both government [34] and academic literature also support this finding with authors such as Mercer, de Rijke and Dressler suggesting that

The 'Precautionary Principle' is a key component of Sustainable Development and environmental legislation throughout Australia. All users of land, are required to assess risk and carefully "evaluate to avoid, wherever practicable, serious

from CSG operations. As Oliver, a local councillor and farm owner noted:

*that it will destroy the agricultural industry and put the grazing industry at risk.*

' should be being applied by governments much

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295

#### **3.1. Competing for water**

In all parts of Australia, access to water is problematic as the continent is one of the most arid on Earth and as such, the availability of its water sources places a fundamental limit on how and where the population can live and work. Likewise, how water is used and thought about is key to our understanding of issues intimately connected with it, such as: access, management and ongoing protection of this limited resource. This is particularly important when considering fresh water sources, 'because the continent has so little of [them], particularly surface flows, and the small amount [Australia does have are] poorly distributed to meet human needs, both spatially and temporally" ([29], p. 422). As such, 'matching supply to demand, geographically and temporally, is a major problem in Australia' ([29], p. 432).

Most participants in this study recognised the value of water in all its forms and the desire to avoid contamination of fresh water sources was thought to be paramount. As a region, Narrabri has had a long history of debilitating droughts, the most recent, having only broken in late 2015 ([6], p. 108). As such, people have long memories and their experiences of continuous drought cycles have clearly influenced their concerns about availability of water and their fear of its loss. As Michael, a local manager in Narrabri shire poignantly noted: 'the water issue is really the touchstone here' ([6], p. 108). This is particularly apparent when participants spoke of the region's relationship with the Great Artesian Basin.

#### **3.2. The great Artesian Basin and continued ecological health**

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world. Occupying more than 1.7 million square kilometres beneath the arid and semi-arid parts of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory, it is an essential fresh water source for many inland communities and ecosystems throughout the continent [31]. In Narrabri shire, water is considered a 'life-giving' force but it is also recognised as fragile and easily diminished through over-use, increased competition and the ongoing effects of climate change. It is also considered an integral part of what Narrabri is, and so is strongly linked with issues around identity and place ([6], pp. 107–108); [31].

In Narrabri, the GAB is particularly valued and many participants in this study expressed great concern that governments appeared to be putting this essential resource at risk. According to the National Water Commission [32], planned CSG development in eastern Australia will at full operation, withdraw more than 300 gigalitres of groundwater annually from the GAB, i.e. more than 60% of total allowable withdrawals including those of locals in Narrabri shire. Expressing her concerns about this, Anne Kennedy [2, 6], a sixth-generation farmer in the Shire, sums up the vital role of the GAB by stating that:

*the Great Artesian Basin is our lifeblood, and if we lose our groundwater, we simply cannot exist here. Not just the farmers, but communities, towns, vast areas of inland Australia will be uninhabitable. It is our only permanent water supply.*

Confirming this further, Dylan, a local farmer also suggested that:

*no other place has got a big pool of water, millions of gigalitres of water underneath the ground. And… that's been the backbone of the grazing industry for decades. Now if that gets depleted… the worst case scenario is that it will be the death of the grazing industry in Australia.*

The continued health of the GAB was also linked with ideas about continued agricultural and human health more broadly. Many participants in this study, like Dylan above expressed a fear that the potential impacts from new hydro-carbon activities, such as those associated with CSG, might pollute shared water resources and if this were to occur, as local consultant Richard succinctly noted; 'without water, you've got nothing' [2].

#### **3.3. Risk**

aspirations and anxieties that form part of understanding what it is to live in rural places in

In all parts of Australia, access to water is problematic as the continent is one of the most arid on Earth and as such, the availability of its water sources places a fundamental limit on how and where the population can live and work. Likewise, how water is used and thought about is key to our understanding of issues intimately connected with it, such as: access, management and ongoing protection of this limited resource. This is particularly important when considering fresh water sources, 'because the continent has so little of [them], particularly surface flows, and the small amount [Australia does have are] poorly distributed to meet human needs, both spatially and temporally" ([29], p. 422). As such, 'matching supply to demand,

Most participants in this study recognised the value of water in all its forms and the desire to avoid contamination of fresh water sources was thought to be paramount. As a region, Narrabri has had a long history of debilitating droughts, the most recent, having only broken in late 2015 ([6], p. 108). As such, people have long memories and their experiences of continuous drought cycles have clearly influenced their concerns about availability of water and their fear of its loss. As Michael, a local manager in Narrabri shire poignantly noted: 'the water issue is really the touchstone here' ([6], p. 108). This is particularly apparent when

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world. Occupying more than 1.7 million square kilometres beneath the arid and semi-arid parts of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory, it is an essential fresh water source for many inland communities and ecosystems throughout the continent [31]. In Narrabri shire, water is considered a 'life-giving' force but it is also recognised as fragile and easily diminished through over-use, increased competition and the ongoing effects of climate change. It is also considered an integral part of what Narrabri is, and so

In Narrabri, the GAB is particularly valued and many participants in this study expressed great concern that governments appeared to be putting this essential resource at risk. According to the National Water Commission [32], planned CSG development in eastern Australia will at full operation, withdraw more than 300 gigalitres of groundwater annually from the GAB, i.e. more than 60% of total allowable withdrawals including those of locals in Narrabri shire. Expressing her concerns about this, Anne Kennedy [2, 6], a sixth-generation farmer in the

*the Great Artesian Basin is our lifeblood, and if we lose our groundwater, we simply cannot exist here. Not just the farmers, but communities, towns, vast areas of inland Australia will be uninhabitable. It is* 

geographically and temporally, is a major problem in Australia' ([29], p. 432).

participants spoke of the region's relationship with the Great Artesian Basin.

is strongly linked with issues around identity and place ([6], pp. 107–108); [31].

**3.2. The great Artesian Basin and continued ecological health**

Shire, sums up the vital role of the GAB by stating that:

*our only permanent water supply.*

NSW today.

**3.1. Competing for water**

294 Land Use - Assessing the Past, Envisioning the Future

In Narrabri shire, the perceptions of risk and uncertainty were particularly heightened when these issues were associated with questions about the region's long-term viability. As John from the cotton industry suggested ([6], p. 109):

*…access to ground water is what drives the economy here. It provides a baseline or a foundation for the agricultural economy. A lot of the water is taken from other systems but the ground water is the backup, it's the foundation. If anything goes wrong…*

The possibility of 'things going wrong' was ever present in the minds of many participants in this study ([6], p. 109). Often referring to the idea of long-term 'sustainability', participants suggested that the 'precautionary principle3 ' should be being applied by governments much more readily than it was. This sense is described by authors such as Beck as the 'materiality of risk', where doubts and concerns are connected with the 'sweeping influence of science and technological change "particularly that associated in new and/or historical industries such as mining, energy production and so on ([33], pp. 4–5). He claims that perceptions of risk associated with these industries, also 'draw attention to the limited controllability "and uncertainty associated with any new or untested techniques or developments utilised ([33], p. 6). In Narrabri shire, the idea of risk and uncertainty may be visualised most clearly through the anxiety expressed about potential fracking operations and toxic by-products that may arise from CSG operations. As Oliver, a local councillor and farm owner noted:

*So [what happens] if any water ponds …become toxic? Drilling can sometimes flip it back into our aquifer system and that's very dangerous. I think we haven't got enough scientific evidence to prove that what I'm suggesting won't happen. That's how it is with this industry, the worst case scenario is that it will destroy the agricultural industry and put the grazing industry at risk.*

This lack of certainty around the integrity of infrastructure, would appear to also be strongly connected with the idea of how water (both fresh and discharged) is currently being managed and how it is to be managed to avoid potential contamination into the future and in relation to possible flood or high rainfall events. Both government [34] and academic literature also support this finding with authors such as Mercer, de Rijke and Dressler suggesting that

<sup>3</sup> The 'Precautionary Principle' is a key component of Sustainable Development and environmental legislation throughout Australia. All users of land, are required to assess risk and carefully "evaluate to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment" [38].

'the impact on water supplies from the mass dewatering of coal seams and the subsequent disposal of saline water are among the strongest concerns people have about unconventional gas extraction' ([7], p. 280).

As Caitlin, another large producer notes:

when asked about his perceptions of people's main concerns:

the next generations". Likewise, as Bryce, another farmer suggests:

**4. Activism and the rise of unlikely alliances**

*and to put that at risk…*

As Tania, a local sheep farmer notes:

agricultural supplier, ready to protest:

*kilometres of Narrabri. It's that simple.*

*gone through this process.*

*…this is about those things that are priceless. It's about clean air, clean water, and land to grow clean healthy food. I can't impress upon you enough the importance to the State and the nation as a whole of our food producing lands. We have them here, they're clean and green and we produce [a] great product,* 

Unlikely Alliances in the Battle for Land and Water Security: Unconventional Gas and the Politics…

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297

For some members of the community, there was little differentiation made between the potential effects of coal mining or CSG as land use types, and while some community members were not against either, the caveat was always that both could proceed as long as they did not have an impact on soil quality or its future security [2, 6]. As Michael, a local manager notes

*Well there are…people [making a] living from that land, but it's such fertile soil and it will be productive forever if it's well looked after. But if that land gets ruined by mines, how can we grow food there?*

*I've never been opposed to coal seam gas…[or] to coal mining, I've always said, and it's on record that 'You can go ahead with your mining, provided it's done with respect. And there's respect to the environment, respect to the laws of the land and respect of the people in the area where you're operating'.* It is this perceived lack of respect, however, that has some in the community like William, an

*You start digging up the Liverpool plains, I'll be the first bloke standing there with a placard. Because it's just unbelievable that we would even think about doing that… In a hundred years' time, people are still going to need to eat some form of sustenance, and at this point in time I can't see that sustenance coming from anything other than the dirt. And we've got some of the best dirt in the world within 200* 

Carl, a retired farmer sums up the general feeling of many by suggesting that: 'it's the farmers; it's always the little people that get hurt. I am not doing [this] for my benefit. This is for

*…for a lot of people, this is the first time in their life they [have felt] passionate about something, and [want to] stand up… they've never had to do this before. They've never felt threatened or have never* 

Overall, what these comments signify is that the nexus between water, soil and food security is widely recognised within the community, as is the connection between stewardship (offered by farmers) and decision-making around land use. The ongoing health of water and soils is stressed as something that is non-negotiable [2, 6]. This is made more apparent when one considers how

Becoming 'politicised' as Bryce suggests above, is for some an entirely new position in which they find themselves. Many have never protested before, nor felt compelled to stand up and

these land use changes have been met with resistance often from unexpected quarters.

Echoing this finding, Michael, a local manager suggests:

*…there's the Leewood or the holding ponds, you know…they're developing out there on [the] flood plain, [but] if there's a major flood during production and the ponds are full, …then what? You know there's quite a lot of risk. And I'm actually not opposed to gas out in the middle of the desert, or natural gas or mining per se, but this is just something we do not want in this area. There's too much value… it's like this is our irrigation water, our stock water, our drinking water.*

This concern was also linked more generally to scepticism about the burgeoning industry and the feeling of not being told the truth as expressed by Malcolm, a local farmer, who notes:

*If there was no risk (and we know there's a risk), the companies would guarantee it [but] it's never going to happen. I've asked them; they won't do it. If it was all good, we wouldn't have this dissent. The dissent is enormous; and not just in Narrabri.*

#### **3.4. Food and soil security**

At the heart of the debates occurring in Narrabri, is also the recognition of how resource 'scarcities', and water, energy, food and fibre are all interconnected in a web of complex relations [2, 6]. As climate change and other pressures increase, continuing to meet food production and consumption is going to become increasingly challenging. Many farmers and the community in Narrabri acknowledged this and it should not be surprising that the idea of protecting healthy soils not only in this region but Australia-wide was seen as a critical and enduring task.

The ongoing notion of the need to protect soil security in the face of land use change and increasing climate variability has also been expressed federally in the Australian National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy [34]. It is noted in this strategy and by Koch et al. [35] that: 'securing soil as a contribution to the current and future competitiveness of Australian agriculture "is essential because 'it is estimated that water erosion is now outstripping soil formation rates across Australia by a factor of several hundred and in some areas, several thousand "and as a result, soil quality is reducing significantly.

This concern is echoed by Murray an inland farmer who commented in regards to mining:

*'You know [we're] dealing with some of the best soils in the country [here], like these black soil plains [which] don't make up very much of Australia… less than 1% probably. If they could prove to me that it wasn't going to affect anything in the future, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But my biggest worry is you know, once they dig it up, it's gone…'*

#### Likewise Bryce, another farmer suggested that:

*The type of country [we're] talking about, it's genuine, high-production, high-value country… There might be something underneath it, but God forbid we ever start digging up that sort of country.*

As Caitlin, another large producer notes:

'the impact on water supplies from the mass dewatering of coal seams and the subsequent disposal of saline water are among the strongest concerns people have about unconventional

*…there's the Leewood or the holding ponds, you know…they're developing out there on [the] flood plain, [but] if there's a major flood during production and the ponds are full, …then what? You know there's quite a lot of risk. And I'm actually not opposed to gas out in the middle of the desert, or natural gas or mining per se, but this is just something we do not want in this area. There's too much value…* 

This concern was also linked more generally to scepticism about the burgeoning industry and the feeling of not being told the truth as expressed by Malcolm, a local farmer, who

*If there was no risk (and we know there's a risk), the companies would guarantee it [but] it's never going to happen. I've asked them; they won't do it. If it was all good, we wouldn't have this dissent. The* 

At the heart of the debates occurring in Narrabri, is also the recognition of how resource 'scarcities', and water, energy, food and fibre are all interconnected in a web of complex relations [2, 6]. As climate change and other pressures increase, continuing to meet food production and consumption is going to become increasingly challenging. Many farmers and the community in Narrabri acknowledged this and it should not be surprising that the idea of protecting healthy soils not only in this region but Australia-wide was seen as a critical and enduring

The ongoing notion of the need to protect soil security in the face of land use change and increasing climate variability has also been expressed federally in the Australian National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy [34]. It is noted in this strategy and by Koch et al. [35] that: 'securing soil as a contribution to the current and future competitiveness of Australian agriculture "is essential because 'it is estimated that water erosion is now outstripping soil formation rates across Australia by a factor of several hundred and in some areas,

This concern is echoed by Murray an inland farmer who commented in regards to mining:

*'You know [we're] dealing with some of the best soils in the country [here], like these black soil plains [which] don't make up very much of Australia… less than 1% probably. If they could prove to me that it wasn't going to affect anything in the future, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But my biggest* 

*The type of country [we're] talking about, it's genuine, high-production, high-value country… There might be something underneath it, but God forbid we ever start digging up that sort of country.*

several thousand "and as a result, soil quality is reducing significantly.

*worry is you know, once they dig it up, it's gone…'*

Likewise Bryce, another farmer suggested that:

gas extraction' ([7], p. 280).

296 Land Use - Assessing the Past, Envisioning the Future

**3.4. Food and soil security**

notes:

task.

Echoing this finding, Michael, a local manager suggests:

*dissent is enormous; and not just in Narrabri.*

*it's like this is our irrigation water, our stock water, our drinking water.*

*…this is about those things that are priceless. It's about clean air, clean water, and land to grow clean healthy food. I can't impress upon you enough the importance to the State and the nation as a whole of our food producing lands. We have them here, they're clean and green and we produce [a] great product, and to put that at risk…*

For some members of the community, there was little differentiation made between the potential effects of coal mining or CSG as land use types, and while some community members were not against either, the caveat was always that both could proceed as long as they did not have an impact on soil quality or its future security [2, 6]. As Michael, a local manager notes when asked about his perceptions of people's main concerns:

*Well there are…people [making a] living from that land, but it's such fertile soil and it will be productive forever if it's well looked after. But if that land gets ruined by mines, how can we grow food there?*

As Tania, a local sheep farmer notes:

*I've never been opposed to coal seam gas…[or] to coal mining, I've always said, and it's on record that 'You can go ahead with your mining, provided it's done with respect. And there's respect to the environment, respect to the laws of the land and respect of the people in the area where you're operating'.*

It is this perceived lack of respect, however, that has some in the community like William, an agricultural supplier, ready to protest:

*You start digging up the Liverpool plains, I'll be the first bloke standing there with a placard. Because it's just unbelievable that we would even think about doing that… In a hundred years' time, people are still going to need to eat some form of sustenance, and at this point in time I can't see that sustenance coming from anything other than the dirt. And we've got some of the best dirt in the world within 200 kilometres of Narrabri. It's that simple.*

Carl, a retired farmer sums up the general feeling of many by suggesting that: 'it's the farmers; it's always the little people that get hurt. I am not doing [this] for my benefit. This is for the next generations". Likewise, as Bryce, another farmer suggests:

*…for a lot of people, this is the first time in their life they [have felt] passionate about something, and [want to] stand up… they've never had to do this before. They've never felt threatened or have never gone through this process.*

Overall, what these comments signify is that the nexus between water, soil and food security is widely recognised within the community, as is the connection between stewardship (offered by farmers) and decision-making around land use. The ongoing health of water and soils is stressed as something that is non-negotiable [2, 6]. This is made more apparent when one considers how these land use changes have been met with resistance often from unexpected quarters.
