It's a simple point that has largely been lost amongst the multi-layered debate generated since construction of the proposed Tillegra Dam was announced three years ago.

Regardless of your view on whether the $477 million dam is needed to drought-proof the Hunter, all agree the project will have a profound environmental, social and economic impact on the affected area.

In general terms, the dam would cause an estimated 2100 hectares of land to be inundated by 450 billion litres of water.

Among those most strongly opposed to the dam is the farming community that has lived and worked on rolling hills around Dungog for generations.

To people like Jim Moore, whose family has lived in the area since 1890s, the idea of destroying hundreds of hectares of prime agricultural land is irresponsible, if not criminal.

In addition to farmland, Dungog Shire Council has pointed out that its ratepayers will be left to foot a bill for bridge and roadworks completed in recent years following an assurance that the dam was not on Hunter Water's 20-year planning horizon.

But it's not just livelihoods, economic productivity and infrastructure that will be lost if the dam proceeds.

No amount of financial compensation will make up for the loss of the historic Munni/Quart Pot Cemetery, which is due to be flooded.

While an offer has been made to exhume and relocate the remains of those buried there or relocate their headstones, it brings little comfort to descendants, like Patricia Middlebrook.

"It makes a mockery out of the term 'rest in peace'," she told The Herald recently.

The recently released Tillegra Environmental Assessment Report confirms 19 kilometres of river bank and aquatic habitat on the Williams River will be lost.

The report notes that 5 million trees would be planted and 1800 hectares of biodiversity corridors will be created to help offset the losses.

But many environmentalists believe the loss of pristine native animal and plant habitat can never be replaced.

Likewise, debate also rages about the impact of the dam's wall on native fish populations, many of which need to migrate to estuarine waters.

No major infrastructure project can be built without forever changing the surrounding environment. But for Tillegra Dam, many are asking: "Is it a bridge too far?"