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THE revival of Dungog has been given a major boost with the 6000 hectares of land bought for the defunct Tillegra dam now back in private hands, including those of a passionate local with elaborate plans to enhance the town’s tourism appeal.
Settlers Arms owner and Dungog Shire councillor Tracy Norman has bought the Munni portion of the land, about 1300 hectares, and wants to use the historic Munni House as an educational centre for sustainable farming practices, which she has studied. It coincides with her purchase of a butcher store in the town and a former hardware store, which shut last year.
Cr Norman is the daughter of Harvey Norman co-founder Ian Norman, who was among the country’s wealthiest men when he passed away last year. She is tight-lipped on her family claim to fame, preferring to talk about the town instead.
Cr Norman is helping Dungog get back on its feet after the town was devastated by floods during the ‘‘storm of the century’’ in April.
‘‘We’re looking at some good employment opportunities for the people of Dungog,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s a real passion of mine, the youth of Dungog particularly, and giving them a reason to stay around Dungog after they leave school.’’
Cr Norman hopes to establish an artisan cheese factory, supported by a dairy farm, on her new land, as well as beef cattle and free-range pigs and chickens. In the longer-term, she is planning an eco-tourism resort.
The butcher store would sell free-range meat and cheese, creating a complete chain of supply.
The large former hardware store would provide an office for the Dungog Festival and support a range of other activities.
‘‘We’ve got an artisans’ co-operative that is going to go in there and basically sell their wares out of it,’’ she said. ‘‘We’ve got a youth club that’s going to go in and we’re working with a community group to give them a space for training ... a meeting point, something for the youth to do.’’
Cr Norman was involved with the No Tillegra Dam group and saw the angst the dam caused.
‘‘I think whichever side of the argument that you were on, and there were strong opinions obviously on both sides, at least now there’s a bit of certainty, so I think people can get on with their lives,’’ she said. ‘‘I just think it’s great to have some positive news for Dungog because we have been through a rough time of late.’’
Hunter Water described the land buyers as a mix of local and Sydney residents.
The dam proposal was ‘‘finally put to bed’’, Hunter Water managing director Kim Wood said, with the sale of the property in five lots, ranging from 1000hectares to 1300 hectares, and a separate parcel of 86hectares.
The $477million dam was announced, then dumped years later, by the former Labor government.
The Tillegra land was valued late last year at $48million. Hunter Water spent twice as much to buy it.
The state government has instead introduced water-wise rules for the region, and Hunter Water plans to expand the pipeline, connecting its network to the Central Coast, providing for the transfer of up to 11billion litres of water a year if the region’s dam levels plummet.
Mr Wood resigned this week to take up a job in Queensland.