28.01.14 – More than 100 protesters have blocked access for work crews in the Leard State Forest as the campaign to block construction of the Maules Creek open-cut coal mine expands.
Workers from Whitehaven Coal, the developer of the planned mine in northern NSW, were turned away early on Tuesday, said Georgina Woods, spokeswoman for the Leard Forest Alliance. Machinery is tied up at three sites and four access roads are blocked, she said.
“We’re basically digging in to stop them from using the machines to clear the forest,” said Ms Woods. “It’s not going to end until this forest gets a reprieve.”
Police have arrested at least 10 protesters since the main blockade began about two weeks ago. One protester has been arrested on Tuesday as police move in on campaigners attached to several structures on the work site.
The campaigners want federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to revoke approval to clear the forest for coal mining.
Police and the Rural Fire Service this month succeeded in having the Leard forest declared closed to the public until March 31 by the Forestry Corporation of NSW because of fire risks. The move sparked complaints by environmental groups and a firefighters’ union.
Council eviction vote
A separate move by the Narrabri Council to evict the protesters from crown land under their control will now proceed after after several councillors had lodged an objection to the move. The council brought forward a vote on the eviction from February 4 and passed the eviction order on Tuesday afternoon.
“There’s a prediction that there’s very hot weather on the way,” said Bevan O’Regan, one of the councillors who halted the original council move, detailing the reason given for the early vote.
Mr O’Regan said the council’s general manager may not proceed to issue fines for those who refuse to move on from crown land.
“The question is now whether they will start evicting, or is it a bluff?,” said Mr O’Regan. “We’ll soon find out,” he said, adding that the protestors may not move their camps back into the forest.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a maximum of 35 degrees on Tuesday and then six days ranging from 37 to 40 degrees.
Among people risking arrest on Tuesday is Bill Ryan, a legally blind 91-year old Kokoda veteran, who is taking part with his 65-year old son, campaigners said.
“This blockade has given our community hope that we are not just the collateral damage of the coal industry,” said Maules Creek resident Roslyn Druce in a statement “(It) is doing the job the government should have done, protecting an irreplaceable forest.”
A weekend gathering for people involved or want to know more about ecological direct action around the UK including fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power, new road building and quarries with discussions and campaign planning – emphasis on the tactics and strategies, community solidarity and sustainable activism.
A weekend gathering for people involved or want to know more about ecological direct action around the UK including fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power, new road building and quarries with discussions and campaign planning – emphasis on the tactics and strategies, community solidarity and sustainable activism.
Evening Friday 7th – afternoon Sunday 9th March 2014, Nottingham
Cost scale £20 to £30. This includes full vegan meals and accommodation.
It will be an indoor floor sleeping space so bring a warm sleeping bag and mat. Train to Nottingham then tram to Beaconsfield street– walk to the end turn right on to Gladstone St — 245 Gladstone St, Nottingham NG7 6HX — www.earthfirst.org.uk
Full map/travel details
For offers of help or questions email themiddle@earthfirst.org.uk
Programme
Friday
16.30-17.30 Security Workshop
17.30-18.30 Film
18.30 Dinner
20.00 Benefit Gig
Saturday
8.30-9.30 Breakfast
9.30-10.45 Intro go round of campaigns
10.45-11.00 Break
11.00-12.00 Future of Earth First Part 1
12.00-13.00 Security Workshop
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-14.30 Lush/fundraising workshop
14.30-18.15 Campaign Workshops (timings to be finalised to include Fracking, Nuclear, Roads and Coal)
18.15-18.30 Summer Gathering handover
18.30 Dinner
20.00 DJ??
Sunday
9.00-10.00 Breakfast fry up
10.00-10.30 Tidy up of venue
10.30-11.30 Feedback go round
11.30-12.30 Future of Earth First Part 2
12.30-14.00 Summer Gathering Planning (and time of other workshops to run in parallel)
14.00-15.00 Lunch
15.00 End
16.1.14
Arm tube lock on blocking iGas lorries getting through
One of the protectors has superglued her leg on the arm tube
Protectors being cut free now by police removal team
LIVE at http://bambuser.com/v/4272902
14th January 2014 Activists have blockaded the Maules Creek mine site at Boggabri in New South Wales, Australia, for three days now.<
14th January 2014 Activists have blockaded the Maules Creek mine site at Boggabri in New South Wales, Australia, for three days now.
On Monday, 30 protestors, including members of Aboriginal groups and the organization Leard Forest Alliance, descended on the site, with some locking themselves to heavy machines.
Yesterday, 10 more protestors joined the group, re-enforcing an ad-hoc encampment and locking down to bulldozers.
The Leard Forest is set to be destroyed by the open pit coal mine, and the heavy machines are supposed to start clearing forest for Witehaven Coal’s operation. The forest is important habitat, as well as a cultural and burial site for Aboriginal people in the area.
Activist group the Leard Forest Alliance said the heavy vehicles were at the site to begin clearing forest for a road and railway line to service Whitehaven Coal’s $767 million open-cut coalmine. The alliance says the mine will destroy Aboriginal cultural and burial sites and valuable forest and animals.
