After more than four years of hard work and perseverance, the Dungog Common has now been gazetted as the Dungog Common Recreation Trust.
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The Dungog Commoners Inc was formed nearly five years ago with the aim to get The Common back in the community’s hands.
Allen Shrimpton, who followed the late Jason Hile as president of the group, said they were worried about the land being developed.
“After the proposed Tillegra Dam did not proceed we were looking at other ways to encourage tourists to the area,” he said.
“We based our plans on Forrest, a town of 200 people in Victoria. In 2003 the last of their timber mills closed and a study suggested mountain bike trails be established as a focal point of a new tourism industry.
“Forrest is now considered the gateway to The Otway Ranges National Park with tourism now forming the basis of the town’s economy.
“We had support from the [Dungog District] Chamber of Commerce, Dungog Council and the Rotary Club of Dungog.
“There is around 600 acres of Crown land that makes up The Common and will include the travelling stock routes.”
The Trust will manage recreation, tourism, environmental heritage protection, grazing and bushfire management on the land.
The fire brigade keeps a check on land and the Trust is very conscious of the left side of town being in the direct path of a fire should it break out.
“But there are roughly 70 to 80 head grazing there are the moment and they are keeping the vegetation down,” said Trust member Wolf Skafte-Zauss.
“We will put together a plan of management, seek advice on where to put roads, parking and toilets and Bill Dowling will help with nature flora and fauna.
“We will also manage the grazing lease.”
Trust members said it is a great opportunity for Dungog and local businesses.
“The weekend before the August Dash and Dawdle one of the local cafes had seven people in there on the Sunday morning,” Mr Shrimpton said.
“On the morning after the event, there were 27.
“And with more passive recreation events planned, it can only get better.”
Mr Skafte-Zauss, who started up Pedal On tours earlier this year, said people come up from Sydney to use the tracks at The Common.
“Every weekend there are new people up here,” he said.
“And they have to find places to eat and drink as well as sleep if they stay for the weekend.
“It can only be of benefit to the town.”
