Valuing floodplain development in the Fitzroy Basin : choice modelling (CM) survey 1 results.

The objective of this choice modelling (CM) experiment was to estimate respondent’s preferences for tradeoffs between further floodplain development in the Fitzroy Basin and environmental and social tradeoffs. This dataset details the results of the first of three surveys undertaken as part of the Valuing floodplain development in the Fitzroy Basin project. This survey sampled populations from Brisbane (urban centre) Rockhampton (regional centre) and Emerald (regional town) to gauge their willingness-to-accept (WTA) and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for floodplain development. 340 completed surveys were received and split into three versions which focused on: - the whole Fitzroy basin - the Dawson river sub-catchment - the Comet-Nogoa-Mackenzie sub-catchment. For consistency, and to allow subsequent comparison of values, the same attributes were used as the basis for the choice scenarios generated for the three case study areas. These were: - Payment levy (a one off environmental levy collected through rate payments) - The amount of healthy vegetation left on floodplains - The kilometers of waterways that remain in good health - The number of people leaving rural or country areas every year, and - The amount of water kept in reserve for future use