PAC Rejects Coal Mine Plan for Third Time

Darley Australia resident Lonhro | Darley

The Planning Assessment Commission recommended against the Drayton South open-cut mine proposal, located near Darley and Coolmore Studs in the Hunter Valley, for the third time Racing and Sports reported Friday. Originally, Anglo American wanted to construct the new mine less than a kilometer from the edge of the two stud farms. The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association was pleased with the decision and were hopeful Rob Stokes, Minister of Planning, would formally refuse the Drayton South application.

“While we are relieved at today's [Friday's] decision we are saddened by the impact this will have on the affected mining families,” HTBA president Cameron Collins told Racing and Sports. “Our community here in the Hunter Valley is a small and tight one. This issue has caused divisions that no one wanted. 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.”

Continued Collins, “This is the third PAC that has recognized 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.”

According to the HTBA, the Thoroughbred breeding industry contributes over A$5 billion annually to the Australian economy and A$2.6 billion on a yearly basis to the New South Wales economy, as well as providing 230,000 jobs throughout Australia.

 

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