WELL, the decision has been made and a new look is headed for Bulahdelah.
On Sunday, February 19, members of the Bulahdelah Golf Club voted unanimously to sell 90 acres of their land to Brewery Australia.
Vice-President of the Bulahdelah Golf Club, Allan Freihaut, explained that there was more than one proposal for the land, but Brewery Australia held the winning proposal.
"It is now contract time with the solicitors, but the members have unanimously voted to sell the land," he said.
The land that Bulahdelah Golf Club has just sold will now encompass a $70 million development proposed by Brewery Australia, which includes an International resort, 18-hole golf course and brewery.
Many residents believe that the resort will increase tourism in the town, as once the Pacific Highway bypass is complete, no one can be sure as to what effects this will have on Bulahdelah.
Mr Freihaut believes this proposed development is the shot in the arm that the town needs to survive the planned bypass.
"Many say that towns do better after the bypass, but I must say that those towns who can stand-alone (Raymond Terrace, Taree etc) could support themselves.
"Small towns like ours simply close up retail outlets and force the local people to relocate for work reasons, taking their children with them, which in turn decreases school numbers, downgrading the schooling opportunities for those left in town," he said.
The preliminary plans for the resort feature four storeys of 206 rooms, including all the standard resort facilities such as a conference centre, pool and gymnasium, but what makes this resort stand out from the rest is the fact that it plans to also feature a petting zoo, theme park and a $3 million working brewery.
The proposal also mentions that Bulahdelah Golf Club's nine-hole course will be extended to 18 holes.
As well as working as a tourist destination, the brewery, to be known as "Down Under Brewery", will endeavour to produce 10,000 litres of Australian beer a day, to export to China, the US and South-East Asia, along with on-site sales to resort guests.
It is estimated it will take two years to establish, with the brewery coming into operation in December 2006, the golf course open for use by March 2007 and the resort operating by June 2007, when the strata units are expected to be completed.
Mr Freihaut added that not only would the resort increase tourism in the riverside town, it would also provide up to 200 jobs in the area.
He believes the introduction of the proposed development in Bulahdelah would certainly give future school leavers some great opportunities to attain world-class training and skills to take them through their adult life and into the full time workforce.
"My wife and I have raised two children in the township of Bulahdelah and on both occasions when it was time for our children to find work they had to relocate to enable them to achieve their work ambitions," he explained.
"This has been the case with many families in our area, except for those who choose to take employment in either the service stations in town or the local saw mills.
"Also, those that are at school and do want to receive experience in hospitality and make some pocket money whilst still going to school are bound by the lack of job opportunities in town," he continued.
Mr Freihaut explained that not only Bulahdelah would benefit from this development, but also the entire Great Lakes area.
"I do believe the Hunter will also receive spin off from our overseas guests that stay at the resort," he said.
He believes the golf course will also attract more visitors from nearby areas once it builds another nine holes, turning it into an 18-hole golf course.
"This will be able to support a golf pro, a pro shop with all accessories, and a juniors' clinic to promote and educate the school children that do use the golf course as a form of sport or a possible career path."
The Great Lakes area already provides professional tourism operators and it just so happens that Bulahdelah in right smack in the middle of this wondrous area of natural beauty that surrounds us within the Great Lakes Shire.
"The fact that it is so close to Newcastle and also right at the top end of Port Stephens makes it very attractive for those working in the Newcastle area," he added.
Mr Freihaut said that after talking with a lot of the townspeople over the past two weeks, he had not had one negative remark on the project.
"The whole town is like me, in full support of the proposal," he concluded.
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