Hunter Breeders Shocked

“The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders were shocked today (Thursday) by the Department of Planning’s recommendation for the proposed Anglo American Drayton South Open Cut Coal Mine to proceed largely rejecting the recommendations of the Government’s independent Planning Assessment Commission,” said President Dr Cameron Collins.

“Since the implementation of the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy the NSW Government has stated their new policies and processes are designed to protect significant agricultural lands, water and industries, ‘The process will protect you’,” Dr Collins quoted.

“The recommendations of the independent Planning Assessment Commission were that this mine should not to go ahead and that the studs should be afforded the highest level of protection from mining,” he said.

“It is extraordinary that the Planning Department should reject the findings of the Government’s independent Planning Assessment Commission and the Gateway Panel.

“Despite Government reassurances regarding upholding independent advice of the Planning Assessment Commission, we have a departmental report today which disregards the PAC’s recommendations and proceeds to support a mine that will devastate an entire industry.

“The Department has been very cavalier in its conclusion that a mine in this location is an ‘unavoidable consequence of co-existence.’These two industries have operated independently in the valley when more than 8km from one another, not 500m.

“It shows a breathtaking lack of understanding of our industry and our business model and an obscure interpretation of the PAC’s recommendation. It also displays a total disregard for the health and safety of the families that live on our stud farms – less than 500m from this proposed open cut coal mine.

“It is incomprehensible that a government department can with the stroke of a pen, dismiss the advice of two independent bodies appointed by the Government and signal the death knell of an entire industry in the Hunter Valley, billions of dollars of investment and 1,000s of jobs for the sake of one mine.

“This is not over yet. A second independent PAC needs to consider this proposed mine. The NSW Government needs to step up and deliver on its commitments. We hope that sense will prevail,” Dr Collins said.

– HTBA

Share this article