Mines, Wines and Thoroughbreds: Towards Regional Sustainability in the Upper Hunter, Australia

Sustainability promotes the perpetuation of environmental quality for present generations, future generations, and other species. Regions are privileged bounded spaces and a focus for sustainability concerns. This paper explores the notion of sustainable regions by employing a case study of the Upper Hunter, Australia, a region that is a node in material and discursive networks for coal mining, wine making, and thoroughbred breeding. It defines sustainability as environmental sustainability, which is a basis for socio-economic development. While planning for sustainability at a regional scale is vital, it is also necessary to understand material and discursive networks that connect regions with other spaces.