A new group, under the banner Front Line Action on Coal has set-up a forward base, less than 1km from the Boggabri Coal working open-cut mine and are planning “undisclosed actions” against the mine and two others, Whitehaven’s Tarrawonga Mine and Aston Resources’ Maules Creek Project should it gain planning approval.

The driving force behind the bold move are protesters Murray Drechsler and Jonathon Moylan, who rolled into the forest late Sunday afternoon and set up a well-equipped base under the banner Front Line Action On Coal.

Moylan and Drechsler had never met each other until last week, communicating only on the internet, but are now sending out the call to protesters all over the country to join them on-site.

Mr Moylan said the blockade had been set up for the long haul and will continue until the mining, and clearing, in the State Forest stops.

“If it takes two years, so be it,” Mr Moylan said.

“We are passionate about the cause and will do everything in our power to protect the State Forest.”

Now the blockade site is set up both Drechsler and Moylan are doing everything in their power to attract numbers and they expect the campsite to swell dramatically over the next week.

“We are expecting protesters from the immediate area, Armidale, Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Newcastle and Sydney,” Mr Drechsler said.

“I can promise that mine management will certainly know we are about and we’re not afraid to take them on in a number of ways which we are not prepared to disclose yet.

“It’s our forest and to put it bluntly, we are sick of getting conned by mining companies and politicians.”

While the newly-formed Front Line Action On Coal Group has the support of the Maules Creek Community Action Group, Drechsler and Moylan do not come from the area.

Drechsler lives at Main Arm near Byron Bay while Moylan resides in Newcastle, which he is quick to point out is home to the world’s largest coal export plant.

“Newcastle exports 143 million tonnes of coal each year and the expansion of mining in the Leard Forest area will add another 30 million tonnes a year,” said Moylan.

“They are now trying to add another 100 million tonne a year terminal to the Newcastle plant which will increase the number of trains needed, and contribute to higher levels of dust, noise and respiratory illness,” he said.

“Coal mining is the biggest single contributor to climate change and we can’t just sit back and let this happen.”

Mr Moylan, who has a day job as a translator, will work from the blockade during the protest via the net, and says the Front Line Action On Coal Group will take up the fight by using legal and political action, media awareness and community support.

“This is one of the first long-term blockades of its kind in Australia’s history and like the mining companies, we have plenty of tricks up our sleeve,” said Moylan.

“Boggabri Coal, Tinkler’s Aston Resources and Whitehaven’s Tarrawonga Mine, will all eat into Leard Forest and we are going to be smack bang in the road of progress,” he said.

According to Mr Drechsler, who will live in an Indian style tee-pee while on site at Leard Forest, the local community should not be “sucked in” by promises made by mining companies.

“Mining companies use all sorts of tricks to get the community on side, I’ve seen it time and time again,” he said.

“They will say they just have an exploration licence when that actually gives them permission to extract coal and when a small open cut mine applies for modifications the pit can quickly be transformed into a mega mine.

“As technology in the mining game takes a grip, the employment opportunities dwindle along with promised jobs for the community.

“Tinkler’s Maules Creek project will fly in 90 percent of its workforce.

“It’s also interesting to note that when the impact of mining is assessed it is done on each individual mine not on the impact of all three, as will be the case soon in the Leard Forest area,” he said.

While living at the remote Leard Forest blockade campsite, protesters will rely heavily on the local community for supplies.

The campsite is made up of tents, including a large tee-pee equipped with a heater, and all the usual trappings like open fire, table and chairs, supplies storage and of course, a camp dog.

“We have already had bulk tea and coffee supplies dropped off by locals and anyone who wants to jump on the protest band wagon will be made feel right at home,” Mr Drechsler said.