More Govt support sought for EI-hit recreational horse industry

The New South Wales Government is being criticised for not doing enough to help the recreational horse industry in the Eurobodalla cope with equine influenza (EI).

About 100 people from across the south-east attended a meeting at Batemans Bay last night, calling on the Primary Industries Department to help have the industry return to normal at least by March 1.
The department's Kevin Cooper addressed last night's meeting, saying that big areas of the state are now being declared green, including Berry on the south coast.
But the organiser of last night's meeting, Milton Leslight, says the process was still too slow and people involved in the industry were hurting.
"We've heard people are down 80 and 90 per cent on their turnover. Members of the family are having to go to other parts of the country and sometimes in New Zealand to put food on the table for the families back at home. It really is a devastating issue," he said.