Front Line
A video update from the Leard Forest Alliance
Ecologist Phil Spark explains what is happening in response to Whitehaven Coal moving into commence work on its new coal mine in Leard State Forest, and a man is arrested for blockading Whitehaven Coal’s access to the forest.
Tree-sit protest stops work by Whitehaven Coal in Leard State Forest
A tree-sit in place preventing clearing of Leard State Forest by Whitehaven Coal for its Maules Creek coal mine in north west NSW.
Maules Creek protestors step up blockade amid attempts to shut it down
Media Release, 15 January 2014
Protestors today have again blockaded the site of Whitehaven’s controversial Maules Creek coal project in North West NSW, ensuring work is stopped from clearing the forest for construction of rail infrastructure.
The project, located in North West NSW near Boggabri, has been dogged by controversy. It will clear fell a large area of Leard State Forest, including critically endangered woodland and endangered wildlife habitat. It is opposed by members the local farming community with the blockade bringing farmers, Traditional Owners and environmentalists together.
Last Monday protestors established a blockade at the edge of the forest and prevented bulldozers from felling trees for an access road. Construction work was halted for the day. Today protestors are once again in place and vowing to remain.
Phil Spark, local ecologist and farmer said, “With so much at risk – an endangered ecological community and some of the most magnificent species on the planet – it is a scandal that this mine has been able to get this far.”
“With the former Deputy Prime Minister as Chairman, Whitehaven may have very powerful friends in State and Federal politics, but they don’t have right on their side and they don’t have a right to destroy a whole ecological community forever. That’s not the way we do things in Australia,” concluded Spark.
In a further development, yesterday NSW Forestry closed the forest due to concerns about the risk of fire as the heat wave spreads east. However, contrary to normal practice, it appears Whitehaven have been allowed to use heavy equipment, bulldozers and other machines that cause sparks – a situation that would have any other business or individual heavily fined.
Ahri Tallon of the Leard Forest Alliance, said, “Forestry has shut down the Leard State Forest because they are concerned about the risk of fire. Building coal mines, bulldozing the forest is the last things anyone should be allowed to do if the risk of fire is too great for everyone else.”
The Maules Creek project has drawn the attention of people from around Australia due to its impact on critically endangered Grassy Whitebox woodland, and cultural heritage sites of the Gomeroi people, the traditional owners of the Leard State Forest.
Traditional Owner Elder Uncle Dick Talbot said, “Leard Forest holds many significant sites for us. Whitehaven Coal has completely ignored our pending legal request for an order to stop work to protect our cultural sites.”
Mr Talbot is calling for Whitehaven to stop work while a decision is pending on their request, saying, “I will fight on to save my culture until my last breath. Claims that we are a minority are disrespectful to senior elders and traditional owners, and we would like an apology.”
Whitehaven Coal blockaded
15 January 2014: A blockade is in place to prevent further destruction of Leard State Forest by Whitehaven Coal.
Police are on site.
Whitehaven Coal recently began preparatory work to construct its Maules Creek Coal mine in Leard State Forest, near Maules Creek in north west NSW.
If this new open-cut coal mine proceeds it will destroy thousands of hectares of the Leard State Forest which is home 396 species of plants and animals and includes habitat for 34 threatened species and several endangered ecological communities.
NSW Government’s Forestry Corporation attempt to shut down protest in Leard State Forest
The Northern Daily Leader reported on Tuesday 14 January 2014:
ANTI-COALMINING protesters camped in the Leard State Forest for more than 530 days have been given just hours to vacate the site or risk being forcibly removed by police.
The Leader understands Forestry Corporation went to the camp on Tuesday morning and told protesters it was shutting the forest and they had 12 hours to pack up and move on.
There is a significant police presence on standby at the site should the campers not adhere to the deadline or choose to stand their ground.
The camp was established on August 5, 2012 to oppose Whitehaven Coal’s plans to construct a $767 million coalmine at the nearby Maules Creek.
The ultimatum comes after two protesters were arrested for disrupting work on the mine by chaining themselves to heavy machinery on Monday.
Sydney Morning Herald also published news about the attempted eviction:
A forest at the centre of an anti-coalmine protest has been closed to the public. […]
…activists face a $2200 fine if they stay on state forest land.
The Northern Inland Council for the Environment called this attempted eviction by the NSW Forestry Corporation “unprecedented”.
“They have effectively handed over this important public forest, Leard State Forest, to the coal miners, and now they are trying to lock the public out so that the destruction of this priceless environmental area can go on unobserved,” said Phil Spark, spokesperson with the Northern Inland Council for the Environment.
Lock the Gate Alliance (LTGA) also spoke out against the attempted eviction of the community protest camp, saying that the fire season was used as an excuse to close the Leard State Forest. LTGA say that this is a misuse of emergency fire provisions by the Forestry Corporation of NSW. Read the LTGA’s statement in full here.
The Front Line Action on Coal camp remains in place, defending Leard State Forest from coal mining, the NDL reports in a follow up story:
…the campers stood their ground and sought legal advice, which revealed only a small portion of the camp was actually on forestry-controlled land.
The relocation of a few tents and some other items was about all it took for the protesters to slip outside Forestry Corporation’s jurisdiction and continue their occupation.
Two protesters who locked themselves to bulldozers at a controversial northwest NSW mine have been arrested but activists vow to continue their blockade.
AAP, Protesters vow to continue action at mine, 14 Jan 2014
In recent days Whitehaven Coal brought bulldozers into Leard State Forest to commence clearing in preparation for the construction of the Maules Creek coal mine.
If the new open-cut coal mine is developed it will clear thousands of hectares of the Leard State Forest. Click here to find out more about the forest and the mining proposals.
Whitehaven Coal have begun bulldozing Leard State Forest to make way for the Maules Creek coal mine.
If the new open-cut coal mine goes ahead it will destroy thousands of hectares of Leard State Forest in north west NSW. The forest is home to 396 species of plants and animals and includes habitat for 34 threatened species and several endangered ecological communities.
Locals, Traditional Owners, and environmentalists have responded to this tree clearing by blockading the site to prevent further bulldozing of the forest. Read more about what is happening.
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.
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
Three days of action to protect Leard State Forest.