The president of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association has called for all exploration and mining licenses granted by former NSW minister Ian MacDonald to be suspended until the current ICAC inquiry is finalised.
During the ICAC hearing, evidence has been heard in relation to the Mt Penny, Yarrawa and Glendonbrook exploration licences.
But of concern to the group representing the interests of the billion dollar Hunter thoroughbred industry is information concerning other licences issued by MacDonald.
They include the Doyles Creek and Spur Hill exploration licences in the upper Hunter Valley, which has a long-established tradition of thoroughbred breeding.
“No government should, in good conscience, stand by and allow any of these exploration licences to proceed, people to invest and landholders to fret when serious questions hang over the appropriateness of how these licences were issued in the first place,” HTBA President Dr Cameron Collins said in a statement.
The association has reiterated its concerns about the Spur Hill proposal, including its proximity to important horse breeding land.
The HTBA claims that this was exactly the type of project industries were promised to be protected against.
“Decisive action now will signal that this government is serious about correcting the wrongs and protecting innocent landholders, investors, significant industries and the state from any further damage,” Collins said.
