Farmers, horse breeders and concerned residents will descend upon Martin Place in Sydney on Tuesday to gather support for the protection of land use in the Hunter.
The rally is led by the NSW Farmers Association and will include representatives from the Country Women’s Association, Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association and Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association on Tuesday, May 1.
Andrew Wiles, vice president of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association said he hoped the community would get behind the rally.
“We will be walking shoulder to shoulder at the rally to protect our food, water, health, jobs and the future of our strategic industries and communities.
“This year the Government will decide upon the Hunter Valley’s land use policy and consequently the breeding industry’s future,” Mr Wiles said
“If it is based on the government’s current Draft Strategic Regional Land Use Plan for the Upper Hunter we will not have investment certainty and mining encroachment will continue to threaten our future.”
Mr Wiles said that the rally was not anti-mining but a reminder to the government to honour their election promises.
“The decision to rally has not been taken lightly, it is a call to government to genuinely protect the prime agricultural lands, precious water resources and the critical industry clusters it has identified and classified as nationally significant,” he said.
“We want to call the government to deliver the protection of our land and water as it promised.
”The diverse background of those supporting the rally is testament to the degree of community concern on the need to protect our industries, lands and water.
He said as a rally supporter the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association hoped industry representatives and members of the community would participate in the rally next Tuesday.
The meeting point is at No. 2 Chiefley Square on the corner of Hunter and Philip Streets, Sydney at 11am with the rally to follow at Martin Place from 11.45am to 1.30pm.
To register your attendance or find out more contact
huntertba2@gmail.com.
