In tonight’s final of our series on Tillegra Dam, we look at how Dungog Shire is trying to make the most of the proposal.
The community is hoping to establish an ecotourism industry to replace agriculture as the region’s main breadwinner.
Dungog boomed during the construction of Chichester Dam back in the early 1900s, it’s predicted the town could face the same experience again if Tillegra goes ahead.
“The town flourished, and then when the construction phase finished, it all fell in a heap, and it’s only in the last few years that that section of Dungog has got over that disruption nigh on a hundred years ago.”
“To be honest i’d say we’re in a lull now, we’re gonna have a peak, and we’re gonna go back again.”
Craig Deasey believes Hunter Water should have the same responsibility to the shire, as coal mines in the Upper Hunter which fund infrastructure like sporting fields and parks.
“They’re also required to contribute to the community, i believe there should be a community benefit fund established.”
The community reference group set up to liaise between Hunter Water and the town has been focusing on the future.
“It’s been one of the toughest jobs I’ve had to do, but to see the effort the community people have put in, unpaid, has been one of the key things i’ve drawn from this.”
It’s helping local businesses band together to develop an ecotourism industry around the dam site, linking in with the National Park.
“But that obviously takes time, takes money, takes infrastructure, takes support from government so it’s something that is probably too big for this area to handle on its own.”
A forum will be held next month bringing tourism experts and people from other towns affected by dams, to Dungog to share their experiences.
“The community of Dungog isn’t looking for a handout in any of this, we see the dam as something that’s probably going to happen and that we have to manage and we’re going to have to rise to the challenge of dealing with it.”
And while there’s scepticism around the shire that the dam is being built for the region:
“It’s not people losing their homes here for the sake of people in Baulkham Hills?”
“No certainly not what we see is the construction of Tillegra Dam will certainly benefit our existing and future customers of the Hunter and lower Hunter.”
The Mayor sees the bigger picture.
“When you have a look at the benefits for the Hunter region and the Central-Coast, I’m not in a position to dispute that.”
Councillor Wall believes there’s enormous potential for the area to benefit, once the proposal’s future is known.
“We’re in a holding pattern until a determination is made and I think the whole community is standing back and waiting for it to happen.”
