Fire to Flourish Clarence Valley

Eight wild waterways flow through the Clarence Valley, comprising Australia’s largest east-coast river system, which cuts through World-Heritage-listed rainforest and emerges into the South Pacific.

The region includes the towns of Grafton, Yamba, Maclean, Ulmarra, Iluka and Wooli, and is home to a diverse and rich history and culture. Clarence Valley was one of the hardest hit by the 2019/20 bushfires, which were the worst on record in NSW. Nearly 60 per cent of the Clarence Valley region was burnt by catastrophic fires: 168 homes were lost, with Nymboida being the most impacted town, with 90 homes destroyed.

Just as this community was getting back on its feet, the 2022 floods hit. Some towns were cut off for more than five days, with no access to food and essentials. Recovery efforts are ongoing throughout the Clarence Valley.