While the hundreds of people continue working around the clock with our horse industries to ensure the highly-contagious equine influenza disease is stopped in its tracks, it’s pleasing to see a glimmer of light beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel.

For those people who own horses that were hit first by EI, there have been some major developments.

The lockdown gates at the Parkes Showground swung open as the final 26 horses were released with NSW Department of Primary Industries permits to travel back to their properties of origin.

There were scenes of jubilation, and a sense of relief and excitement as owners received their permits from DPI.

It had been a long wait to confirm all the Parkes Showground horses had recovered from the horse flu, introduced unknowingly by horses from Centennial Park, which had competed before the first case was confirmed.

We had to make certain that the remaining horses at the showground had developed immunity and were no longer excreting the virus before opening the gates. The last thing we wanted was horses leaving Parkes and infecting other parts of the State.

I thank those owners who stayed by their animals’ side at Parkes for their cooperation and support for the EI eradication campaign.

Similarly, I was pleased to announce the news that riding could resume within the boundaries of the Centennial Park. More than 100 horses stabled at Centennial Park were given a clean bill of health after six weeks in quarantine, and recreational riding resumed within the Park.

It means individuals and families are now able to ride their horses throughout the park and riding schools can conduct their operations - so long as they remain within Centennial Park.

In another positive development, most of the 700 racehorses stabled at Randwick racecourse were moved to "spelling" properties in the red and purple zones of NSW after more than a month in quarantine.

These stories give people hope that the end is in sight. But I want to make it very, very clear that EI is still a serious disease to fight with 39,339 horses infected on almost 4755 properties.

The NSW Government continues to identify the best way of managing the disease, with a clear focus on returning the lives of all NSW horse owners to normality.

Our goal is to contain the outbreak and also to limit the financial impact on the many thousands of people affected by this crisis in the recreational and racing sectors.

As this EI eradication program continues to forge ahead, I’d like to acknowledge the hard work, co-operation and patience of the vast majority of horse owners.

With their continued commitment we will rid this disease from Australia and get their lives back to normal.