News

Hunter Breeders welcome PAC determination

21st Oct 2014

Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association - Tuesday, 21 October 2014*

The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders today welcomed the decision of the NSW Planning Assessment Commission that the economic benefits of the Drayton South project do not outweigh the potential demise of the Hunter Valley’s equine industry and that the project is not in the public interest.

“The Planning Assessment Commission determination demonstrates that the Government’s new process can protect our strategic agricultural industries, critical industry clusters and the health and welfare of our regional communities, ” Dr Collins, Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA) said.

"The PAC determination comes at the end of a lengthy process that had the benefit of project specific assessment requirements and reports, public consultations and hearings and independent Planning Assessment Commission reviews and assessments that were carefully considered and determined.

”The Upper Hunter is a close and diverse community where all jobs and industries are valued. This has been a long and stressful process for all involved. We now look forward to building a sustainable future for our region. We hope that with better planning, communities can be spared unnecessary land use conflicts and the stresses those conflicts impose,” Dr Collins said.

"Today’s PAC determination reinforces the state, national and international importance of the Hunter Valley’s Thoroughbred Breeding Industry and the integral importance of our industry’s two central players, Coolmore and Darley. It also recognised that once damage is done to our key international studs it is irreversible.

"This is an important milestone. Without Coolmore and Darley the entire Hunter Thoroughbred Breeding Industry would be at risk. The PAC’s determination has averted that threat.

"Today’s decision reinforces the recommendations of two previous PACs and the Government’s Independent Gateway Panel that a mine in such close proximity to two international scale studs is an incompatible land use and not in the public interest.”

“We are very relieved for our employees, their families, our clients and our community. It has shown that the process works, and for that we are very grateful,” Mr Tom Magnier, Principal Coolmore Australia said.

“The PAC’s determination is welcomed. It provides our employees with peace of mind and our industry with confidence to invest in the future. At a time when the thermal coal industry is in structural decline, it is important that we protect and preserve strategic and sustainable industries that will provide long term jobs and the prospects of continued long term regional growth for generations to come,” Mr Henry Plumptre, Darley Managing Director said.

Background:

The Hunter Valley’s Thoroughbred Breeding industry contributes over $5 billion to the national economy and $2.4 billion to the NSW economy. It is one of three international centres of thoroughbred breeding excellence in the world – alongside Newmarket in the UK and Kentucky in the USA. It is Australia’s largest supplier, producer and exporter of thoroughbreds. Australia’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry is one of the largest employers in Australia. It employs thousands of people in the Hunter and hundreds of thousands of people nationally. It is an iconic Australian sporting industry worth protecting.