Minister for Regional Development Simon Crean and the Federal Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon were taken on a tour of Coolmore and Vinery studs with the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA).

Both politicians had made a commitment earlier this year to visit local horse studs and gain an appreciation of the HTBA’s concerns for the future of the thoroughbred industry.

The HTBA are continuing to fight for their stance that there needs to be a sustainable balance in the future.

Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association senior media adviser Hellen Georgopoulos said the tour gave the ministers a bird’s eye and grass roots view of the thoroughbred industry.

“It allowed Mr Crean and Mr Fitzgibbon to see first hand the industry in its home in the Hunter Valley and to see the constant encroachment of coal mining,” Ms Georgopoulos said.

“We just want sense to prevail and someone to take responsibility for the major land use conflict occurring.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said he had two objectives for the tour.

“I wanted Mr Crean to see the Upper Hunter from the air and gain an appreciation of the coal mining footprint and get a better appreciation of the thoroughbred breeding industry and its value to our local economy,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“It was a very productive tour, where Mr Crean could hear the concerns of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association and appreciate some of the challenges we face to ensure we get the balance right.”

Mr Crean said the competing land use issue is one that the government has faced many times before.

“The thoroughbred breeders aren’t saying ‘stop mining’, they’re asking ‘how do we manage this issue so we are not impacted?’

“They want to know how they can sensibly manage the impacts, how do they ensure that 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.

“We need to find the balance and manage the impact to ensure the region, which has been effective in responding to diversification in the past, continues to do so in the future.

“The economic diversification in the Hunter is a core strength, and it must remain,” he said.

“When you look at the strongest regions around Australia, they have diversified their economic base.

“That’s what the Hunter has always done.”