Semiaquatic creature has to appear in fresh communities (3,5)

I believe the answer is:

new towns

'fresh communities' is the definition.
(newly built towns)

'semiaquatic creature has' is the wordplay.
'semiaquatic creature' becomes 'newt' (I've seen this in another clue).
'has' becomes 'owns' ('own' can be a synonym of 'have').
'newt'+'owns'='NEW TOWNS'

'to appear in' is the link.

(Another definition for new towns that I've seen is " Settlements for surplus".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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