Maules Creek protesters blockade mine construction

Update: police on scene at coal project blockade

Several police cars have arrived on the scene at a blockade of a controversial coal mine project, where protestors have attached themselves to equipment to prevent clearfelling the Leard forest. 

Police have established a roadblock and are preventing access to the site. Gomeroi elder, Uncle Dick Talbot has tried to attend the scene to undertake ceremony, but has been denied access. 

The protestors are maintaining their blockade and are vowing to remain in place and protect the forest. 

Original post:

Protesters today have launched a blockade at the site of Whitehaven’s controversial Maules Creek coal project in North West NSW, turning back vehicles seeking to clear the forest for construction of rail infrastructure. 

The project, located in North West NSW near Boggabri, has been dogged by controversy. It will clearfell a large area of Leard State Forest, including nationally critically endangered woodland and endangered wildlife habitat, and is opposed by members the local farming community. Now, the blockade has brought farmers, Traditional Owners and environmentalists together.

Protesters have established a blockade at the edge of the forest, and are preventing bulldozers from felling trees for an access road. Construction work has been halted and the protesters are vowing to remain in place. 

Read full media release here.

News reports:

• Australian Financial Review: Protesters target Whitehaven’s Maules Creek project
• Newcastle Herald: Protesters blockade Whitehaven mine
• The Land: Protestors block Whitehaven, again
• The Australian: Protesters ‘blockade’ NSW mine project
• ABC: Protesters chained to bulldozers at Maules Creek mine site in NSW
• The Guardian: Protesters lock themselves to bulldozers to fight coalmine development
• Courier Mail: Protesters claim win at NSW mine site