Maules Creek Mine – SHUT DOWN for over 2 hours

Tarrawonga Mine – SHUT DOWN for over 6 hours

Rocglen Mine – SHUT DOWN for over 6 hours

 Gunnedah Coal Handling and Processing Plant – SHUT DOWN for 9 hours

Newcastle – the world’s largest coal port – SHUT DOWN for an 1.5 hours

 Werris Creek mine – SHUT DOWN for over 9 hours

Sydney Snap Rally

In one of Australia’s largest and most ambitious protests against export coal, over 150 people have come out in force today across six locations to protest Whitehaven Coal’s new Maules Creek coal mine. They are calling on the NSW government to put an immediate stop to work at the mine and audit the approval process that allowed this controversial project to proceed.

Spokesperson for the Leard Forest Alliance, Helen War, said, “There are too many question marks plaguing this development. Dubious federal approvals, corrupt political dealings and blatantly bodged offsets make the Maules Creek project the most spectacular failure of democratic process.”

Every open cut mine owned by Whitehaven Coal in the Gunnedah Basin has been shut down by protesters. Whitehaven’s Coal Handling plant has also been shut down. Sites include:

• Maules Creek coal mine: where 4 people have locked themselves to access points
  • UPDATE 9AM: One activist has been cut off, arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station. 4 People locked themselves to gates and blocked entrances leading into Whitehaven Coal’s controversial Maules Creek mine in the Leard State Forest. Police Rescue were immediately onsite and cut off and arrested 1 activist, Austen Graham.
• Werris Creek coal mine: 2 people have scaled the coal loader and have dropped a banner
  • UPDATE 3PM: Police Rescue on site. Papatya Danis (24) and Hayley Sestokas (29) have both been arrested. They occupied the coal loader and prevented trains from being loaded for over 9 hours.
• Tarrawonga coal mine: a person has climbed a tripod structure to block access with 3 more chained across the road
  • UPDATE 9:30AM: All four activists have been removed from the lock on devices and the tripod. They have all been arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station. The ‘Climate of Corruption’ tripod and three people using pipe locks blocked workers from entering and coal laden trucks from leaving Whitehaven Coal’s Tarrawonga mine for over 6 hours. Police rescue arrived on site and 4 people – Laura Mastwyk, Jack Lonergan, Peter Donley (65) and Bronwyn Vost (65).
• Rocglen coal mine: 2 people have chained themselves to the access gate
  • UPDATE 10:30AM: Two activists have been cut off and arrested – John Sheridan (73) and Rae Sheridan (70)
• Gunnedah CHPP: 2 people have chained themselves to the access gate
  • UPDATE 2pm: Two activists have been cut off and arrested. Timothy Buchanan (28) and Andrew Lenart (51) were both arrested. After the activists were removed a backlog of over 25 trucks quickly entered the premises – dismissing any claims by Whitehaven Coal that only minor disruptions  were experienced.

Ms War added, “We need real action on climate change. This is what direct action looks like.”

Further Information:
Helen War Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson 0431 930 428

MEDIA UPDATE – Leard Forest Alliance – World’s Largest Coal Port – SHUT DOWN!

Twitter updates @FLACCoal and #LeardBlockade

Pictures for use: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/hn4wjk433j55t/Act_Up_5_EXTERNAL

We were very excited to receive a $450 donation from Noemie Huttner-Koros yesterday. What makes it so special is that in lieu of receiving presents for her 18th birthday, she asked her friends and family to support the LeardBlockade. We wish you a very happy birthday Noemie and thank you for your selflessness. Here is her story…

2 weeks ago I had my 18th birthday party. I was really super excited because a bunch of awesome people were coming to celebrate life and happiness and music. Instead of people bringing presents I asked them to donate to the LeardBlockade to stop the Maules Creek Mine. Over the past year I have been hearing more and more about the battle against the Maules Creek coal mine to save the Leard State Forest. Earlier this year my brother was one of 100 people arrested during a non-violent direct action to stop Whitehaven coal destroying even more of the forest. Because I wanted my birthday to be a celebration of life, I thought an awesome present would be ensuring there is still this beautiful planet and a safe climate into the future.

The fight to save the Leard State Forest is such an important one. It has brought together hundreds of people from  farmers, to traditional owners, university students and a 92 year old Kokoda veteran (!) and people from communities all around Australia. The Maules Creek coal mine is set to become the largest coal mine in Australia contributing the equivalent of New Zealand’s total yearly emissions. I have been volunteering with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition for the past few years and I know in order to have a liveable world we need to do everything we can to fight against the influence of the fossil fuel industry and from new mines being built. The Maules Creek mine will also destroy the Leard State Forest, ripping up the precious ecosystem of box gum woodland, the largest remaining woodland of its kind on the Liverpool Plains. It will threaten farmland and endangered species such as bats and koalas. Earlier this year traditional owners came to Canberra to communicate their story to environment minister Greg Hunt. We had a picnic at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and we heard that Whitehaven Coal has destroyed Aboriginal sacred funeral sites that were thousands of years old. We need to be part of this social movement to stand up to the fossil fuel industry. It’s really vital that we hear the stories of those on the front lines of this fight as we support them in whatever creative, imaginative and useful ways we can.

It’s so important we stand by the people at the LeardBlockade and show that we are thinking of them and all the hard, amazing work they are doing. I can’t wait to go up to the Leard Blockade and meet everyone who is working very very hard to stop this mine. People are resisting every day and I was very excited to be able to do a little bit to save the Leard.

Much love,

Noemie 🙂

‘We all have a duty to disobey unjust laws.” Martin Luther King

Two young people have locked themselves to a barrel filled with concrete blocking access to the main entrance of Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek mine in the Leard State Forest. The protest is part of an ongoing campaign against the controversial mine which puts at grave risk the over 30 threatened and endangered species that inhabit the forest.

The protestors, Serenity Reid, 20, and Jake La Rosa, 22, have both cited concern about the destruction of the Leard State Forest and impacts of coal mining on local agriculture with the construction of this new mega mine.

Ms Reid said, “The forest, the animals and the people of this area are at great risk from the industrialisation of the Leard and its surrounds. It is unsustainable, and I have come here to stand for the people and this land.”

Mr La Rosa said, “This irreplaceable forest is at risk, and I have come here representing nature, which cannot protect itself from this destructive industry.”

Front Line Action on Coal have waged a two year long campaign of peaceful, civil disobedience against the Whitehaven mine after forming an alliance with local community members who were frustrated by NSW planning approval processes that allowed the project to go ahead.

Phil Evans, Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson said, “Now that ICAC has concluded Operation Spicer, we have seen the resignation of a Premier and 10 Liberal MPs moved to the cross bench – some because of dealings with mining operations like Nathan Tinkler’s – who was part of the Maules Creek project.”

“People have lost faith in the NSW planning approvals process. We need a full inquiry into the approval of dodgy projects like Whitehaven’s, and meanwhile, we need an immediate ban on mining company donations to political parties and the corrupting influence they seem to have.”

Over 250 people, including farmers, doctors, lawyers and a WW2 veteran, have been arrested taking peaceful, direct action to stop coal mining in the Leard State Forest.

UPDATE 8:15am: Narrabri Police have arrived on site. No sign of Police Rescue yet.

UPDATE 1:30PM: Still no Police Rescue and still locked on. Approaching 8 hours!

UPDATE 5:30PM: Police Rescue have arrived on site.

UPDATE 6:00pm: Jake has been arrested and put in a wagon. Serenity is still attached as Police Rescue attempt to saw through the barrel.

UPDATE 7:00om: Serenity has been arrested and both our heroes have been taken to Narrabri to be charged. Sending in people for arrest support and will update with charges in the morning. Another day of peaceful, community civil disobedience to stop Whitehaven Coal’s dodgy Maules Creek mine!

Further Information:

Phil Evans, Front Line Action on Coal Spokesperson, 0490 064 139

Twitter updates @FLACCoal and#LeardBlockade

Pictures available from https://www.mediafire.com/folder/813ewu4jyfdvd//18%20September%202014

Whitehaven Coal and the NSW Minerals Council have made serious allegations of violence against the campaign. We absolutely refute these claims detailed in this news article.

Leard Forest Alliance Media Release
MAULES CREEK/Sydney, 17 September 2014 – The Leard Forest Alliance and activists at the Leard Blockade camp have called for an immediate police investigation into alleged interference with mine fuses at the Maules Creek Coal Mine.

The Alliance has no knowledge of any of the events alleged by Whitehaven Coal and the Minerals Council and has asked Whitehaven Coal to explain whether it has breached its own safety protocols at the site, given there are strict requirements relating to security of blasting operations.

“We have absolutely no knowledge of any of the events pertaining to the preparation of operational blasting at Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Coal mine as alleged by Whitehaven Coal,” said Phil Evans, spokesperson for Front Line Action on Coal.

“We are committed to only non-violent protest activities and for two years have held true to that principle. The Alliance supports a full police investigation into this serious allegation.

“We are concerned about the security at the mine site and for the safety of the local community who live in the vicinity,” continued Evans. “Whilst it is not clear what information is known to the NSW Police, there have been no police allegations of impropriety against any member of the Leard Forest Alliance, so for Whitehaven Coal and the Minerals Council to imply otherwise is completely unacceptable.”

The Leard Forest Alliance and those who join activities at the protest camp, have a clearly stated commitment to non-violent actions and do not use or endorse property destruction as a tactic. Its commitment can be seen at: http://leard.frontlineaction.org/participation-and-safety/.

“Greenpeace is committed to nonviolence,” said acting Greenpeace CEO, Lisa Walters. “Greenpeace’s core values and our cornerstone principles are reflected in all our environmental campaign work worldwide. These include ‘bearing witness’ to environmental destruction in a peaceful and non-violent manner. Our core values can be found on the Greenpeace website,” concluded Walters.

“Likewise 350.org is committed to non-violence in its efforts to address the serious issue of climate change and has trained hundreds of Australians in non-violence in the last two years,” said 350.org Australia’s Blair Palese. “We support the call for an investigation into the serious allegations made by Whitehaven to ensure the safety of those living in the Maules Creek community.”

This news comes as the latest Whitehaven “Winter Clearing” court hearing is adjourned until the 10th of October, 2014.

Further Information:

Greenpeace media officer, Julie Macken: 0400 925 217

Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson, Phil Evans: 0490 064 139

350.org Australia CEO, Blair Palese: 0414 659 511

Yesterday saw the #LeardBlockade throw open the gates to locals in our first of monthly BBQ days. This new monthly event aims to demystify the camp and its inhabitants, and to help local people understand why the campaign is important to stop the negative effects of coal mining in the area.

Over 24 people from the community came along for an afternoon of food, friendly conversations and tours of the camp, they also got to view the forest and mines from nearby cliffs.

A highlight of the day was the tours of the new aquaponics set up which helps ‘Da Garden’ grow fresh organic food for the camp. Salad made and served on the day was made from the ingredients grown on site.

Stay tuned for the dates of the next BBQ day!!

A Media Release from our alliance partners at Maules Creek Community Council

The NSW Government has indicated it has not yet made a decision on whether to approve or reject the revised Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the Maules Creek Coal Mine.

The newly revised plan was provided by Whitehaven Coal to the Dept of Planning and Environment (DoPE) on the 27^th of August 2014 after legal proceedings had commenced.

“We agree that the NSW Government needs more time to properly assess the revised Biodiversity Management Plan, which had been sought by Whitehaven Coal for the Maules Creek Coal Project. The Maules Creek Community Council believes that this plan does not protect the threatened species which the plan is designed to do” said Phil Laird, spokesperson for the Maules Creek Community Council.

“The revised plan is inconsistent as it aims to start clearing the Leard state Forest in November when young native animals are likely to be slaughtered in their nests.

Whitehaven is asking the Department for a one off “exception” to allow the miner to commence clearing the Leard State Forest outside their normal clearing window without showing the environmental benefits of such an exception.

“The question is: Why is the miner applying for, and the DoPE considering, allowing clearing in spring for this year, when they accept that in the future it is not acceptable to clear at that time? Is the NSW Government changing the rules to allow unnecessary harm to threatened species to suit a coal mining company?

“We’re now calling on the NSW Government to go a step further and provide a guarantee they will not approve a revised plan that will result in unnecessary animal deaths until the full legal challenge has been heard and a judgement handed down.”

The matter is set down for further mention on the 10th October 2014.

SYDNEY — A group of protesters have gathered outside the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this morning as Whitehaven Coal chair Mark Vaile is expected to have his day in the witness box.

The Leard Forest Alliance, a group of environmental organisations and concerned members of the public, is calling for a full audit into the approvals process of Whitehaven’s Maules Creek coalmine, and for the company to wait until that audit has been completed before proceeding with mine construction at the site. The alliance is also calling for a ban on donations from coal mining companies.

The former deputy prime minister, Mark Vaile, was also the chair of Nathan Tinkler’s company Aston Resources, whose sole asset was the Maules Creek coalmine, before the company was merged into Whitehaven Coal.

Evidence tendered at the ICAC reveals that allegedly prohibited donations passed between Aston Resources, Boardwalk Resources, Chris Hartcher, the Free Enterprise Foundation and eventually the NSW Liberal Party, and that ministers and other parliamentarians who received donations allegedly assisted various Tinkler developments through the planning process.

“There are too many questions surrounding the Maules Creek approval process, and the allegations we have heard from ICAC have shattered the confidence of the community,” said Leard Forest Alliance spokesperson Blair Palese.

“NSW Premier Mike Baird must hit pause on construction work until those questions are answered and it’s clear that the dealings that have been brought to light by ICAC have not played a role in the Maules Creek mine approval process.”

“We believe the political donations ban should be extended to mining companies so that the days of hidden influence can be put to rest,” Palese said.

For further comment:
Blair Palese
Leard Forest Alliance
0414 659 511

A group of over a dozen environmentalists dressed as superheroes and forest creatures have been joined by a choir at the electorate office of Planning Minister, Pru Goward. The group, which includes locals from Goward’s Goulburn electorate, are calling for her to ‘be a hero, and save the Leard State Forest.’

Despite an earlier amendment being the subject of a current legal challenge, the Planning Department are now considering Whitehaven Coal’s third amendment to its Maules Creek mine Biodiversity Management Plan. The submission of the new plan was made late last week and led to the adjournment of the case, to be heard again on the 12^th September.

Phil Evans, Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson, said, “You just can’t keep expecting to change the rules of the game – especially before the umpire has made a decision.”

The new plan submitted would allow Whitehaven Coal to clear the forest in Spring, and would effectively green light the slaughter of animals, and their young, as they begin breeding cycles. Other mining companies in the area do not undertake clearing in the times applied for by Whitehaven.

“Over 30 species in the Leard are threatened or endangered – and are therefore protected and special – whereas Whitehaven Coal are not protected and need to stop expecting special treatment.

“The decision now lies with the Planning Department, and we call on Minister Goward to pull on her tights and cape – to be a hero of truth, integrity and justice, and to save the Leard from Whitehaven’s bloody bulldozers.”

Don’t forget to call Pru Goward and ask her to be a hero! Follow this link for for information…

Update 10am: Pru’s office is locked and being guarded by police. She won’t see us.

Update 11:30am: Front Line Action on Coal join with locals to drop flyers in letterboxes of Pru Goward’s electorate of Goulburn – asking for them to call Pru and ask her to deny Whitehaven Coal a new Biodiversity Management Plan.

Further Information:
Phil Evans
Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson
0451 125 400

Pru Goward Bowral Office
288 Bong Bong Street BOWRAL NSW 2576

Twitter updates@FLACCoal and#LeardBlockade

リアード・フォレスト・アライアンス

日本人活動家がリアード・ブロケードをサポート

モールス・クリークを訪問した熱帯林行動ネットワーク(JATAN)は今朝、出光のボガブライ炭鉱の運搬網を止めるブロケードに合流した。JATANは、リアード州有林の破壊停止を求めるリアード・フォレスト・アライアンス(LFA)の活動に参加した。JATANとLFAは、モールス・クリーク・プロジェクトの建設工事の停止と日本の国際協力銀行(JBIC)によるボガブライ炭鉱への融資凍結を求めている。

リアード州有林はリバプール平原の最後に残された最大の森林地帯であり、地球上にわずかに0.01 パーセントしか残されていない絶滅危惧種、ボックス・ガム森林エリアの一部を擁している。州有林はまた、396種の動植物の生育地帯として知られ、その中には、コアラ、キキョウインコ(turquoise parrot)、オプトフクロモモンガ(squirrel glider)など28種もの危惧種が生息している。

「関連する企業は、たんに生物多様性オフセットなどでは代替できない、かけがえのない森林の破壊に加担している」とLFAのスポークスパースン、メレ・マクドナルドは語っている。

また、JATANのスポークスパースン、原田公は、「日本の政府系機関のJBICによる融資によって、オーストラリアの森林と農地が破壊されているさまを目の当りにした」と、現地での印象を述べている。

出光のボガブライにとホワイヘイヴン(Whitehaven)社によるモールス・クリークは、1100ヘクタールの、絶滅が危惧される貴重な森林地帯を皆伐しようとしているが、両社が進めているオフセットはまるで不十分なものだ。日本の電源開発(Jパワー)と伊藤忠商事はそれぞれ、モールス・クリーク炭鉱の10パーセントと15パーセントの権益を保有している。

「今年のはじめに行われた上院による調査によれば、オフセットポリシーは形式的なものであることを物語っている。ボガブライとホワイヘイヴンのケースで言えば、オフセットはでっちあげというしかない代物だ」とメレ・マクドナルドは話している。

JBICは出光のボガブライに巨額の融資を行っているが、こうした破壊への加担はかれらの環境社会配慮ガイドラインから明らかに逸脱している。先住民の文化遺産と貴重な自然ばかりか、住民の生活に欠かせない土壌、水源、大気に対する悪影響が懸念されている。こうしたインパクトは国境を越え、地球的な規模の影響をももたらすものだ。JBICは絶滅危惧種の森林の破壊に融資することでかれら自身のポリシーに違反している。

「気候変動といった大きなインパクトに加え、森林、農場、聖地への影響を考えれば、JBICは出光への融資を凍結すべきだ」と原田公は語っている。

「ふたつの炭鉱開発がもたらす影響は森林の破壊にとどまらない。地域の農家の生産性にも長期的なダメージを与え続けるだろう」とメレ・マクドナルドは述べている。

オーストラリア問合せ先

メレ・マクドナルド(Meret MacDonald)

リアード・フォレスト・アライアンス　スポークスパーソン(Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson)

電話0402 017 027

日本の問合せ先

原田　公(Akira Harada)

熱帯林行動ネットワーク(Japanese Tropical Forest Action Network Spokesperson)

電話+81 90 9156 1291

Dodgy Whitehaven are at it again!

Please Call Pru Goward and email Stokes, Goward and McNally go to 
leardstateforest.good.do/stop-the-spring-slaughter-in-the-leard/call-pru-goward-now/

On the 2nd of September Maules Creek Community Council should have been heard in court, to finally put an end to the battle against Whitehaven’s Winter clearing. Instead, the case was adjourned and we heard news that  Whitehaven have approached the NSW Government to have their management plan for the project varied making these legal proceedings redundant.

The new plan will allow clearing in Spring, when most animals should be busy caring for their young, not fleeing the forest or worse being slaughtered among the forest destruction.

The NSW Minister for Planning Pru Goward, and her new departmental Secretary Carolyn McNally are about to cut Australia’s most controversial coal miner a special deal at the expense of threatened bird and bat species in the Leard State Forest – this is your chance to stop them, and make Whitehaven Coal follow the rules.

We have 10 days and counting to put as much pressure on Goward, Stokes and McNally as possible

For the Media Release from the adjourned court case
http://leard.frontlineaction.org/maules-ck-coal-case-adjourned-whitehaven-seeks-spring-clearing-offensive/

Please Call Pru Goward and email Stokes, Goward and McNally go to 
leardstateforest.good.do/stop-the-spring-slaughter-in-the-leard/call-pru-goward-now/

Points to remember:

– The Leard State Forest comprises some of the last critically endangered box gum woodland, even the planning department has found it is “irreplacable… with ecologically unique values”

– Spring clearing, proposed by Whitehaven’s new Biodiversity Management Plan, will destroy baby animals in their nests

– Other mines in the area are only allowed to clear outside breeding and hibernation periods, in late Summer and early Autumn.

– Why is Whitehaven coal’s Maules Creek Project, formally owned by Tinkler, getting cut a special deal?

– Why will they avoid due process in the courts?

Please remember to be polite.

Pru Goward
NSW Minister for Planning, MP for Goulburn

PO Box 684 Bowral NSW 2576

Ph 02 9228 5413 for her ministerial office
Ph 02 4861 3623 for her electorate office
Fax 4861 3546
[email protected]

Rob Stokes
NSW Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Planning, MP for Pittwater

[email protected]
[email protected]

 Carolyn McNally
Secretary for the Department of Planning
[email protected].gov.au

Office of Environment and Heritage
[email protected]

Please Call Pru Goward and email Stokes, Goward and McNally go to 
leardstateforest.good.do/stop-the-spring-slaughter-in-the-leard/call-pru-goward-now/