"While we are relieved at today's decision we are saddened by the impact this will have on the affected mining families. Our community here in the Hunter Valley is a small and tight one. This issue has caused divisions that no-one wanted," Dr Cameron Collins, HTBA President said
"Today's decision also illustrates the importance of a diverse and resilient economy based on many strong industries providing long term jobs and jobs choices for our community. Its time now for all of us to come move on."
This is the third PAC that has recognised the importance of Coolmore and Darley and the potential terminal decline of the Hunter Valley's entire premier thoroughbred breeding industry if the studs were forced to relocate due to the impacts of one mine.
While there are two more steps to this long process, the Minister for Planning could now accept the PAC recommendations and make a prompt decision.
"For the sake of all involved, we call on Minister Stokes to exercise his Ministerial authority accept the recommendation of this third PAC and formally refuse the Drayton South application," Dr Cameron Collins said
"Given the overwhelming evidence against this mine proceeding, we now need certainty. We call on the NSW Government to permanently protect Australia's and NSW's premier studs from future mining threats and place a SEPP over the Drayton South EL to prohibit future mining on this site and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past," Mr Henry Plumptre, Managing Director of Darley said
"While we welcome the PAC's recognition of the real risks Drayton South poses to Coolmore's business, and the need to protect our thoroughbred industry, we know that today's news is very hard for the Drayton workforce. The uncertainty of this process has been tough on everybody and there are no winners out of it. We thank the PAC for their diligence and especially for their commentary on the need to improve matters to deliver certainty to both mining and the thoroughbred industry," Mr Tom Magnier, Principal of Coolmore said
HTBA Release
