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Sustainable development is a high priority for
the Northern Rivers region because many people in
the Northern Rivers believe it is important to have
a job; that they would like to, and should be able
to, enjoy a reasonable level of prosperity; it is
important to have as high as possible quality of
life; and that a good quality natural, rural and
urban environment contributes to their quality of
life. Many people and businesses in the region also
recognise that future economic development should
be linked to a clean and healthy environment.
Sustainability, or ecologically sustainable development
is a global approach to future development. It is
a process of economic and social development that
maintains a healthy functioning environment upon
which all life depends. To be ecologically sustainable,
we need to think about our children when we make
decisions, so they can have the same range of choices
available to them too. We intend to follow a path
of social and economic development which maintains
the integrity of the ecosystems on which we depend.
In order to maintain our quality of life, we must
live within the carrying capacity of our region’s
resource base and its supporting ecosystems.
If
all of us in the Northern Rivers are to share
prosperity and quality of life, we must universally
recognise that economic development, community
well being and a healthy environment are equally
important. Like the sustainability stool,
we must recognise the connections and inter-dependence
between our economy, ecology and community.
If one support fails, then all we value about
the Northern Rivers is in danger of being
lost. |
Natural, Social and Economic Capital
Many businesses are starting to consider the three
bottom lines of natural, social and economic capital
as an extended application of the economic notion
of 'capital' or the manufactured means of production.
This approach recognises that there is a stock of
natural, social and economic resources and assets
that contribute towards wealth, prosperity and quality
of life. For a sustainable future, we must recognise
that all three of these stocks are necessary for
development to occur. We must also ensure that future
generations can access a stock of capital assets
(natural, social and economic)
no less than what is currently available.
Economic capital includes both
man-made physical capital (such as factories, tools,
and technology used to produce goods and services),
and human capital (the knowledge and skills people
use to be productive).
Social capital includes the interactions
and networks formed between people and the features
of social organisation, such as trust, norms and
networks that can improve the efficiency of society
or enable participants to act together more effectively
to pursue shared objectives.
Natural capital is the stock of
environmental goods (such as air, water, earth,
biodiversity, wilderness, landscape and ecosystems)
and environmental services (ie a base to supply
goods, a sink to dispose of wastes and the means
of supporting life).
Sustainability Principles for the Northern
Rivers Region
Ecologically
sustainable development is based on a set
of principles to achieve:
– long term economic viability;
– social harmony; and
– a healthy and attractive natural environment. |
These principles interpret the vision and provide
a guide to best practice in our region. The vision
for the Northern Rivers is:
A
healthy, prosperous and sustainable future
for the communities of the Northern Rivers
region |
HEALTHY,
PROSPEROUS means: |
SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE means: |
COMMUNITIES
OF THE NORTHERN RIVERS REGION means: |
| The NRRS is
aiming to ensure that the people and natural
environments of our region are healthy, there
is a high level of mutual trust, co-operation
and support within our region’s communities,
and there is sufficient material wealth to satisfy
basic needs and wants (acknowledging that some
people aspire to higher levels of material wealth
than others). |
Recognising
the links between our economy, environment and
quality of life, now and in the future. Acknowledging
that ecologically sustainable development, economically
and socially sustainable development are synonymous.
By striving for a sustainable future, the NRRS
is aiming to achieve a balance between economic,
environmental and social goals.
As agreed at Community Workshop 1, in August
1995:
“Sustainable development needs to be
based on community planning which takes into
account land use capacity as well as the ecology
... * and social/spiritual aspirations to
meet the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations”.
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The people
in our region do not form an homogenous group.
Communities can be defined by spatial boundaries,
such as the Tweed, Richmond and Clarence Valleys,
or by particular characteristics, such as people
adopting differing lifestyles. |
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