Hunter horses post a win over coal

The NSW Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) has handed down its review of Anglo American’s plans to extend its open cut Drayton Coal mine, located near Denman on the doorstep of the Coolmore and Darley studs in the upper Hunter.

PAC was unusually direct in its findings. It said:

* The plan proposed by Anglo should not be approved

* Coolmore and Darley should be recognised as essential” to the equine industry in the region.

* Any mining on the site should be required to demonstrate it will not impact the studs’ operations

* Any new plan will need further assessment

President of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Dr Cameron Collins said: “Without Darley and Coolmore our critical industry cluster in the Hunter Valley would be at risk along with hundreds of jobs, our support and supply industries and our status as one of only three international Centres of Thoroughbred Breeding excellence in the world”.

Henry Plumptre, Darley's managing director said "It is reassuring that the PAC took the time understand the importance of our industry and the impact this mine would have on our businesses and our employees, many of whom permanently reside on our farms.

“No amount of written material could substitute for a first hand appreciation of these matters.”

CEO of Anglo American’s Coal business Seamus French said this decision was a severe blow to the 500 people who work at Drayton mine and the families they support.

“We have followed all the rules, consulted extensively and made $6 billion worth of compromises to reduce project impacts through revised mine designs,” Mr French said.

NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said “The Drayton mine has been operating for thirty years in a region where coal has been mined since at least the 1890s, in co-existence with other industries.

“The suggestion that mining cannot continue to co-exist there is short-sighted and sends a bad signal that mining workers are no longer valued in a region where mining has occurred for at least 120 years.”

Drayton is set to run out of coal by 2017 and Anglo wants to prolong its life by 25 years by rolling the current operation into the adjacent Drayton South extension area, edging closer to the studs.

Darley is part of the global Thoroughbred breeding empire of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and constitutional monarch of Dubai.

Mr Collins told a PAC hearing in October that Coolmore and Darley pumped a combined $120m into the local economy each year, supported 640 jobs and the net economic loss to NSW would be $457m if the studs relocated interstate.

Mr French the same hearing that the Drayton South extension would secure employment for 500 employees, provide more than 300 jobs during the construction phase and contribute $35m in annual Royalties to the state and $70m to local businesses.

There are two more steps pending in the approvals process: the Director General’s report and a final determination from the PAC.

More to come.