A Discussion of Coal Seam Gas in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Region

This paper examines views about the restructuring of rural industries that are based on natural resources. It explores local community stakeholders and visitors perceptions of coal seam gas (CSG). It considers how these subjectivities associated with traditional agriculture, forestry, mining and tourism activities are construed as stable contributors not only to rural economies, but also to the development of local economies. This paper also demonstrates how this type of analysis can be used to understand individual residents and visitors decisions to support or reject CSG proposals and their potential impacts on tourism, recreation and leisure.