LEADING Hunter Valley Thoroughbred nurseries recently hosted Federal Regional Development Minister, Simon Crean, in their bid to achieve balance between mining and agriculture in the region.
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Coolmore Australia business manager, Tom Magnier, showed Mr Crean around the 3440ha farm that is home to 1000 horses including 600 mares, with an anticipated 300 foals to be born this spring, and 13 of the world’s most sought after stallions.
“We were delighted he made the effort to come over and see what we do, and we think he got a better understanding of the size and workings of an industry that is vital to the Hunter Valley,” Mr Magnier said.
“I’d say he was surprised at the scope of our industry, he didn’t realise it was that big.
“It was very worthwhile, in terms of what we hope to achieve.
“It’s a work in progress, it’s all about awareness, and the most important thing is that we are trying to protect this industry in the Hunter Valley for generations to come.”
“If you look at the world rankings, horses from the Hunter are highly rated and our stallions – we have gone so far forward, it is a shame to think that this would be threatened,” he said.
Mr Crean said competing land use issues needed sensible solutions.
“They aren’t ‘stop mining’, they’re asking ‘how do we manage this issue so we are not impacted?’
“How do we sensibly manage the impacts, how do we ensure the claim that this will cause untold damage is avoided, because no-one is seeking to do this in a way that destroys our fundamental industries,” Mr Crean said.
“The issues need to be heard and addressed, and at a State level, there is a parliamentary process underway.
“The economic diversification in the Hunter is a core strength, and it must remain.”
Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, took his colleague on a helicopter ride to see the impact of mining over the region.
“The main purpose was to give Simon a better appreciation of the value of the Thoroughbred industry, to showcase our economic diversity and to see from the air the footprint of coal mining, the dust levels and the proximity of mining to Thoroughbred breeding centres.
“Only a helicopter ride can give you a full and proper appreciation,” he said.
“We can’t allow an industry (mining) which will be with us only a couple more decades to threaten sustainable industries such as agriculture, viticulture and Thorough-
bred breeding, which will be here for centuries to come.
“If we increase the intensity of mining around key Thoroughbred breeding areas, we are at risk of losing that industry – enough’s enough,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
