MAULES CREEK, 23rd October 2014

Today access to Whitehaven coal’s controversial Maules Creek Project has been blocked. Chantelle Brown, 23, has locked themselves to a concrete structure, blocking the main access point into the site. This is part of ongoing protests against Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek project, and global climate change driven by fossil fuel use.

Whitehaven Coal’s intention for the Maules Creek project is to clear critically endangered ecosystem of the Leard State Forest, and damage surrounding farmland, to build an open cut coal mine. As the largest new coal mine currently under construction in Australia, the Maules creek project will contribute irrevocable damage to our climate.

“The shonky Maules Creek project is not only exemplary of a broken planning system in NSW, but of federal inaction on climate. On a global level, people should not be expected to stand aside whilst Tony Abbott furthers a ‘suicide strategy’ to back the coal industry and bail on the UN climate summit. It is time for the people to act” said Emily Rose, Leard Forest Alliance spokesperson

“I am taking action to draw attention to the ineptitude of the current state and federal governments, and their approval in building the largest new coal mine in Australia to the detriment of the people and the environment.” said Chantelle Brown of Wauchope, NSW.

The Leard Forest Alliance is calling for work to stop on the Maules Creek Project, while a full audit of the Planning Approval process at both state and federal levels takes place. Given the coal linked corruption unveiled at the NSW level of ICAC, we now need a federal level independent investigation.

In the last week we have seen massive action on climate here in Australia. On Friday the Pacific Climate Warriors blockaded the largest coal port in the world in Newcastle, and Monday Whitehaven’s offices were shut down in Sydney by citizens concerned about the devastation caused by the Maules Creek project, and climate change.

“There is no Planet B. There is no ‘economic growth’ on a dead planet” said Ms Brown

“We are not going anywhere, and we know Whitehaven are shaking in their boots” said Ms Rose.

There has been a protest camp set up in opposition to the Maules Creek project for over 2 years, and this year has seen 264 people arrested in protest as part of the campaign.

UPDATE 12:20PM: Chantelle has been arrested and taken into custody

Further Information:
Emily Rose, Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson
0401 214 729

Pictures available from  https://www.mediafire.com/folder/nq8g57r2em1ne/23_September_2014

Twitter updates @FLACCoal and #LeardBlockade

FROM OUR ALLIANCE PARTNERS: Friends of the Earth (via Quit Coal Victoria) and 350.org Australia

MELBOURNE 22ND OCTOBER: 80 individuals are today occupying the Melbourne offices of ANZ in support of the Pacific Islanders at risk of losing their homes to climate change. The group comprises Melbourne residents and representatives from a group of Islanders who have come to Australia to oppose the fossil fuel industry. Participants have arranged themselves in concentric circles in the building’s atrium and are chanting poems and testimonials about the effects of climate change.

The action follows a high profile blockade of the Newcastle Coal Port last Friday, and a series of occupations of offices including Whitehaven Coal in Sydney, the Minerals Council of Australia in Canberra and Buru Energy in Perth earlier this week.

Mikaele Maiava from Tokelau one of 30 ‘Pacific Climate Warriors’ representing 12 island nations joined the action said: “At home in Tokelau, climate change is threatening our food security, our culture, our land and our identity. The fossil fuel industry and Australia’s continued commitment to its expansion, is directly increasing that threat.

“We have come to ANZ to highlight the damage and loss that they are causing by pouring billions of dollars into the Australian coal and gas industry. As ANZ is also a member of the Pacific Island community, with branches across the region, it should understand that these fossil fuel investments are not only putting our livelihoods at risk, but also theirs.

“We are urging ANZ to stop financing new fossil fuel projects to protect our homes and our future. We know that we need to see a massive shift in capital from fossil fuels to clean energy if we are to have a chance of keeping our islands above water. What we reap now is what our children will sow in the future.”

Nicola Paris, spokesperson for the group said that ANZ was chosen because of their contribution to dangerous climate change.

“Since 2008, ANZ has loaned over $6.75 billion to coal and gas export projects. ANZ is the largest commercial funder of fossil fuel projects in Australia.

“We are here to say enough is enough. We will not stop until this bank removes all funding from fossil fuel projects and stops exporting climate chaos on the Pacific Islands.”

“This is the culmination of several actions happening around Australia this week to show the fossil fuel industry that it is no longer acceptable to profit from pollution. Actions like this will continue until the big polluters start facing up to the reality that is climate change.”

Media Contact:

May Ng: 0420 733 429 [email protected]

Charlie Wood: 0427 485 233 [email protected]

Video (No Frontiers Media)

50 people have descended on Whitehaven Coal today, with 10 people occupying the Sydney office in support of the fight of Pacific Islanders who have come to Australia to stand against the fossil fuel industry. The action follows the blockade of the Newcastle Coal Port last Friday, where 150 people in canoes blockaded coal ships for several hours.

Milañ Loeak, a Pacific Climate Warrior from Marshall Islands who has joined the action, has welcomed the support of Australians for their cause.

“Climate change has had very real impacts on people’s lives in my country,” she said. “When I was a child the sea was a constant a steady feature of island life. But with climate change is now a force to be feared. The Islands are frequently buffeted by impacts of climate change with the sea level rising, droughts affecting the northern islands and king tides flooding homes in the south.”

“The Pacific Climate Warriors came to Australia to bring the message that climate change is real, and it is hurting us now. We came here to stand up to the fossil fuel industry that is recklessly destroying our homes.

“But we know we can’t do this alone. That is why we welcome the support of our brothers and sisters in Australia who are participating in this action today.”

Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson, Helen War, said they targeted Whitehaven Coal due to their reckless approach to climate change.

“Whitehaven is currently building the largest new coal mine in Australia. This mine, sitting in the environmentally sensitive Leard State Forest, will result in the same amount of emissions as the entirety of New Zealand’s energy sector every year for the next thirty years. Whitehaven is exporting climate chaos on the Pacific Islands.

“We are here today to say enough is enough. The construction of this mine must stop now.

“The small disruption we have caused here today is to give Whitehaven Coal a sense of the climate destruction they are fueling across the Pacific.”

Further information:

Helen War
0431 930 428

On Monday 13th October, 30 Pacific Climate Warriors from 12 different nations will make the trek to Leard State Forest to stop climate change where it starts. The Warriors will join the campaign to stop the construction of Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Coal Mine and the ongoing operation and expansion of Idemitsu’s Boggabri Coal.

Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Project and Idemitsu’s Boggabri Coal have been clearing the Leard State Forest for massive open cut coal mines. The Pacific Warriors will join community members, supported by the Leard Forest Alliance, including 350.org and Front Line Action on Coal, who have been campaigning against the operation of these mines for over two years. They will stand up to the fossil fuel industry at its source, fighting for the protection of their land, oceans, culture and way of life.

“We have to find ways to keep coal and gas in the ground. People all around the world are recognising this and taking action to challenge the power of the fossil fuel industry. For us Pacific Islanders, there is nothing more urgent or necessary.” said Mikaele Maiava, climate warrior from the Tokelau.

Combined the Whitehaven and Idemitsu projects plan to extract over 22 million tonnes of coal, creating a greenhouse gas impact greater than that of 165 individual nations. Those emissions will lead to sea level rises, and more intense storms and floods, which are already hurting Pacific communities.

“Whilst Tony Abbott comes under international critique over his ‘suicide strategy’ to back the coal industry and bail on the UN climate summit, we are seeing the real leaders, real warriors, stepping up to protect our future.” said Leard Forest Alliance media spokesperson Murray Drechsler.

“The impacts will be felt the world over, not only in the Pacific nations that are literally sinking as the oceans rise, but here in northwest NSW as a changing climate exacerbates the extremes of drought and flood.” said Mr Drechsler

“Climate Change is the defining challenge of our century, and here in Maules Creek a flashpoint for a global movement for safe climate, we are seeing genuine actions, alliances, and solutions being peacefully fought for.”

Further Information:
Media Opportunity – 12pm -1pm Monday 13th October
Whitehaven coal and Idemitsu’s joint owned Tarrawonga mine Goonbri rd cnr of Blue Vale rd.

Media Spokespersons:

Photos available on the day Twitter updates @FLACCoal and #LeardBlockade

High Res Pictures available throughout the day from: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/x431lrl1w6pod//Warriors

Gullible decision-makers need to get on the ground in Whitehaven offsets

The two coal mines at Boggabri and Maules Creek  NSW are causing a death-by-a-thousand-cuts destruction of the Leard State Forest. To get approval at Federal and State level, coal miners Whitehaven and Idemitsu have relied on biodiversity offsets that promise “like for like” or “equal to or better” habitat for the critically endangered ecological community (CEEC) and vulnerable plants and animals that inhabit the Leard. Last week in the company of a team of photo-journalists, an arborist, a member of the Leard Blockade and a drone, I visited the two largest of Whitehaven’s “offsets”. They are degraded, over-stocked and over-grazed land, totally unsuitable for the critically endangered and vulnerable plants and animals that inhabit the Leard. Our visit casts extreme doubt over the reliability of Whitehaven’s methods for determining acceptable offsets.

Leard’s community of White box, Yellow box, Blakely’s Red gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland is listed as a CEEC and home to 31 significant listed species, including vulnerable fauna species and plants and some migratory birds. The reason they are listed is that they are at risk of extinction unless they are protected. The CEEC is currently clinging to survival in Leard State Forest despite regular multiple explosives detonations in very close proximity, 24 hour brilliant illumination of the mines’ areas, and heavy machinery noise that is reported by locals to be heard up to 16 km away.

Once the Boggabri Coal extension and the Maules Creek mine are fully underway mammals, birds and reptiles like the pale-headed snake are expected to pack their bags and relocate to the offsets. Of course, only animals that survive Whitehaven’s spring clearing of woodland will be set to make the migration to their new habitat. But what will they find there, if indeed they ever get there?

We visited the northern offsets, the two original and largest of the Whitehaven offsets at Mt Lindsay and Mt Wirridale. They are located over 30km north east of the Leard Forest, although getting there seems much longer because it is a steep and winding climb from Maules Creek to the clean mountain air of the northern offsets. That’s because they are close to 1,000m above sea level – which makes them over two times the highest elevation that can be found at the Leard, or in some cases more than three times the elevation. Some species such as the endangered tylophora linearis have no chance of surviving at altitude, according to independent ecologist Phil Spark, Dr John Hunter and independent scientists who were signatories to a strongly worded rebuttal of the Whitehaven offsets earlier this year. Most importantly, many of the vulnerable bats, birds and snake will not occur at the altitude of the northern offsets which are on the eastern boundary of the Mt Kaputar National Park.

What we found at the Mt Lindsay and Mt Wirridale offsets was extensive grazing lands, fringed by forested ridges containing trees, yes, but a very different suite of trees and ground cover plants than the Leard Forest. According to Phil Spark and Dr John Hunter who have conducted on-the-ground surveys, less than 5% of the area of the northern offsets they assessed represents like-for-like habitat. The properties have been purchased by Whitehaven and leased back to pastoral interests, and we saw substantial stock numbers with sheep alone numbering in the thousands. There is no evidence of any initiative by Whitehaven to rehabilitate the land and start growing a white box woodland there.

Even Whitehaven must have serious doubts about the adequacy of the northern offsets, because in January 2014 the company voluntarily put forward a proposal to acquire further offsets to bolster their claims that they are providing permanent habitat for the unique assemblage of life that inhabits the Leard.

Even so, the northern offsets are the largest offsets by far, and far enough away from the mines not to be seriously impacted by the explosives blasting, 24 hour illumination and constant operational noise and vibration from the Leard mines precinct which currently includes Whitehaven’s Tarrawonga coal mine, Idemitsu mine Boggabri Coal and the under construction Whitehaven Maules Creek coal mine.

The offsets will be protected by a Voluntary Conservation Agreement, which is not safe into perpetuity especially when there is no evidence that Whitehaven has commenced any good faith actions to rehabilitate the northern offsets and transform them into suitable habitat. Removal or at least de-stocking of grazing animals, and a plan to manage the invasive Cypress pine trees that inhibit the regeneration of White box woodland, could be some first steps.

However, the corporate mode of Whitehaven is to delay, delay, delay in every aspect of compliance, and this is not a good omen for a voluntary scheme. The truth is that Whitehaven Coal is a seemingly rogue organisation that needs to be ridden hard by regulators, not left to its own devices under a good faith pact of self-regulation. Consider the company’s recent Community Consultative Committee fiasco where Whitehaven falsely declared to the Department of Planning that an environmental group member had been consulted on the Biodiversity Management Plan. Whitehaven have also repeatedly been caught incorrectly mapping their offsets and forced to revise them – they need to be watched closely.

The nearer, more recently acquired offsets closer to the mine are tiny islands of fringe habitat which will be sandwiched between tailings dumps, drained creeks, and access roads with hundreds of heavy vehicle movements daily. They will suffer from coal dust pollution and noxious N02 fumes from explosives.

Experience from other intensive mine precincts points to a future scenario in which the Leard mine precinct will be at the centre of a kill zone of many kilometres radius, within which random survivors from the rare and endangered ecosystem may survive like fugitive animal versions of Mad Max.

As for the absurd claim that Whitehaven is planning to rehabilitate grazing lands into fully fledged white box forest, or wildlife corridors to give access to the offsets, how can any but the most gullible or incompetent people believe that this could be achieved sooner that the 20-30 year life of the Idemitsu and Whitehaven mines? Those forests would take in excess of 50 years at the very least, more like 100 plus, to provide any semblance of the original habitat.

Why then, do decision makers at the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH) and the Commonwealth  Dept of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC) blindly believe the unbelievable?

The secret lies partly in the way that offsets are calculated, a matter that came under fire during a Senate Environment Committee enquiry earlier this year. Complex formulae and modelling are used, which are very difficult for all but the most experienced ecologists to decipher.

Ready-made offsets for critically endangered White box woodland simply do not exist, because it is after all a critically endangered ecosystem. Somehow, the fact that therefore offsets are not and never will be like-for-like is ignored, whereas the blind assurances of mines’ hired guns are believed. From the cauldron of data modelling, using in many cases old and unreliable source data, and very little on the ground investigation, out comes ‘voila!’ the assertion that the offsets are like-for-like substitutes for the Leard Forest, a place that Mick Roderick (the woodland birds expert at Birdlife Australia) regards as “the sink for what is left” of our critically endangered, threatened, vulnerable woodland creatures. “We can’t afford to lose” Leard Forest, says Roderick.

To date, no independent ecologists have supported the Whitehaven offsets. The only support comes from the mines’ own hired guns.

These simple facts speak volumes.

I am an optimist, and I err on the side of seeing the best in people. Maybe many of the decision-makers who have given the green light to the Leard mines are optimists like me, and they want to believe the hired guns. In this case I invite them to spend a day at the offsets in the company of experts who have no financial interest.

They will see what our expedition observed, which is some mountainous overgrazed pastoral lands fringed mostly with stringy bark open forest, and a range of other timbers, but none that resemble in any but the most minute way the Leard Forest.

Anna Christie Master of Public Affairs (USyd) Master of Environmental Law (USyd) is a member of The Wilderness Society

Contact: 0425 322 186   [email protected]