NYNGAN UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY CONDITIONS Northern Basin i Review Nyngan and surrounds, During the past 15 years, the economic structure of the What the research tells us Nyngan community has become more diverse. In addition to supporting agriculture, the local economy now includes mining Population and renewable energy. Education Employment Between 2001 and 2006, the population and employment in the town and farming areas of the community decreased. However, Land use with the growth in the emerging sectors of the local economy, the Water availability town population and employment increased after 2006. Nyngan and surrounds, The general social and economic conditions in the Nyngan From the locals’ point of view community are sound, indicating some potential to adapt to change. Most agricultural production in the community is based on grazing. Looking back There is limited irrigated production and to date, only a small Managing change volume of water has been recovered for the environment by the What is happening Australian Government. 2 NORTHERN BASIN Charleville Roma Chinchilla QUEENSLAND BRISBANE St George Goondiwindi Dirranbandi Mungindi NEW SOUTH Collarenebri Moree WALES Brewarrina Walgett Bingara Bourke Wee Waa Narrabri Boggabri Gunnedah Coonabarabran Nyngan Warren Gilgandra Trangie Narromine Ivanhoe Orange Forbes SYDNEY Mildura 3 ! Griffith CANBERRA VICTORIA Nyngan and surrounds What the research tells us 4 POPULATION Demographic changes Population under 45 2001 2006 2011 Population over 45 Total area 2,494 2,358 2,326 Aboriginal population population Completed Total town year 12 2,067 1,974 2,075 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% population Northern basin range 2001 2011 Between 2001 and 2011, the Nyngan area In both 2001 and 2011, about 40% of the population declined by 132 people (7%). town’s population was 45 years or over. The Between 2001 and 2006, the town and proportions of people in the community aged farming populations each fell by around 5%. 45 years or over and under 45 remained However, between 2006 and 2011, the town constant. population increased by around 5%, while the farming area population continued to fall. In 2011, 18% of Nyngan’s town population identified as Aboriginal. EDUCATION In 2011, 46% of people in the town (aged over 15) had completed year 12 and 24% had General social and economic condition completed some post-school qualifications. The Social and economic conditions latter is an increase from 20% in 2001. Education and occupation In 2011, Nyngan town had index scores Economic resources of 4 for education and occupation, 4 for disadvantage, 4 for advantage and Disadvantage Advantage and disadvantage, and 3 for economic resources. disadvantage In 2006, index scores of 3 applied to all 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% four indices. Northern basin range Nyngan 5 In 2001, the agriculture and agriculture EMPLOYMENT supply sector represented 43% of all jobs. However, by 2011, there had been a Employment by industry significant shift in the structure of the local 900 2001 2006 2011 800 economy and the non-agriculture private 700 sector had become the largest sector — 600 500 representing 45% of all jobs in the community. 400 FTE Jobs Between 2001 and 2011, employment in 300 200 the agriculture and agriculture supply sector 100 declined by 31% (113 FTE) and employment 0 Farm and farm supply Irrigated agriculture Non-agriculture Government services processing private sector in the non-agriculture private sector increased by 15% (46 FTE). In 2011, there were 804 full time equivalent Government services sector employment (FTE) jobs in the Nyngan community increased by 15% (25 FTE) between 2001 and (excluding seasonal workers). Between 2011. This is the net effect of a 21% increase 2001 and 2011, there was a 5% (41 FTE) between 2001 and 2006, and a 6% decrease decrease in full time employment. Most of the from 2006 to 2011. change occurred between 2001 and 2006. Unemployment in the town was 6% in 2011. The Nyngan area produces livestock including LAND USE beef and sheep. Wheat is the dominant crop. Nyngan’s agricultural industry is Land use predominantly grazing, which accounts Dryland for 76% of the land area. Dryland farming farming is 24% of the land use in this community. The maximum potential area for irrigated Grazing production is quite small with only a small Irrigated number of hectares (less than 1% of the production community land area) identified as being used 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% to irrigate cotton crops. Northern basin range Nyngan 6 IRRIGATION WATER AVAILABILITY A small volume of entitlements are held for water from the Macquarie–Castlereagh catchment. In 2009–10, a small parcel of permanent water entitlements was recovered through purchase by the Australian Government. 7 Nyngan and surrounds From the locals’ point of view Looking back Local historians say the town of Nyngan as some farmers started to move away from ‘flourished’ after completion of the railway line livestock and into cropping for the first time. in 1883. Local farmer and former President of Wool and the sale of sheep have been the NSW Farmers, Charlie Armstrong, said main industry for many decades. The grazing drought resistant crop varieties and of cattle also became common as the area improved cultivation methods allowed was developed. farmers to move into cropping, despite In town, there is the Mid-State Shearing Shed the climate conditions around Nyngan. Museum that was established by local retired Nyngan has an average rainfall of just 17 shearers and towns people. The museum inches or 425 millimetres. highlights the role shearing has played locally However, Mr Armstrong said the biggest and throughout New South Wales. change in agriculture over the last 40 years During the 1960s, there was a major shift in has been mechanisation and the diminished farming enterprises around the Bogan Shire, need for labour on local properties. 8 ‘Mechanisation and use of chemicals has The total damage bill of the 1990s floods came enabled you to do a bigger job with less to $50 million. Locals said that this one single human resources.’ Mr Armstrong said. event saw a lot of businesses leave the town as they chose not to rebuild. ‘We are now twice the size with half the amount of labour.’ Charlie Armstrong Go forward a few decades, and the town became home to the largest solar farm in the southern hemisphere. The construction of the Nyngan Solar When he started his agricultural career in Plant began in 2013. At its peak, it employed the 1970s, Charlie said their family property more than 200 people. However, residents here employed 3 men, himself and his father. Now say only a handful were local to Nyngan. he employs 1 farm-hand and his son also works on the farm. Local Bogan Shire Mayor, Councillor Ray Donald, has lived in the district for almost 70 years. He Charlie said this is indicative of many farming said while the town is ‘progressing well for a operations around the Nyngan district. He small country town’, Nyngan has seen a number described that people are now employing of government jobs disappear. backpackers to come in to do the work in high demand times such as harvest — ‘this is Just recently, the courthouse has been closed. something you wouldn’t have heard of around Ray said the town has lost jobs at the Roads and this area only 5 years ago’. Maritime Services and there has been a significant number of jobs lost from the railway sector. Like all farmers and graziers, those around Nyngan have always been at the mercy of the ‘Our proximity to Dubbo is an issue as quite weather. In April 1990, unusually heavy rains a lot of things have been taken from rural caused major flooding in the town, despite a centres like Nyngan.’ Ray Donald massive effort by local people to build levee walls using sandbags. Mr Donald says job opportunities are limited and that one issue is affecting the retention of With the town almost completely flooded, Nyngan’s population. all the residents had to be evacuated by helicopter from the railway station — which ‘We lose a lot of young people as there isn’t is the highest point of the town. Army a lot of employment to come back to once helicopters, TV news helicopters and private they have gone away and gained their helicopters all cooperated in the airlift. tertiary education.’ Ray Donald 9 Managing change — a business owner’s view to capture more of the passing trade, and encourage tourists to stop in Nyngan. Tony Elias has worked in his family’s Toyota business at Nyngan for more than 30 years. ‘I don’t think we are doing enough. It’s He has seen the business grow from 6 staff to dollars going past your door and it’s a 11 nowadays. growing market. I want to stop the tourists and pull them up in Nyngan.’ Tony Elias Tony said that the success of his business depends on the agriculture sector. While he says the mining industry does bring some Clive Robb bought the butchery in Nyngan business to town, money made by local just over 8 years ago. He worked there as an farmers tends to stay in the town. apprentice before going to work as a farm hand. In 2008, he returned as the new owner. This Toyota dealership services a large area, with the business attracting customers west of Nyngan When he started the business, he was buying and into Queensland over the last two decades. meat in from out of town suppliers. Nowadays, he sells his own product at the butchery and ‘We have basically doubled the number of says that is the secret to his success and cars we sell since 1990.’ Tony Elias increase in profits.