ACTIVISTS in Leard Forest are continuing their campaign against Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek project with more direct action against the company this morning.
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In light drizzling rain a young male chained himself to a bulldozer to stop it moving into the forest to begin tree-clearing and construction work on the multi-million project north of Boggabri.
Despite the presence of police, members of the Leard Forest Alliance and their supporters have continued with their civil disobedience in defiance of orders to move on.
Spokeswoman for the LFA, Georgina Woods, said today that the protesters would ignore police and continue to disrupt any move to clear the forest by Whitehaven.
“We have two camps and around 30 people in the area, one camp is on the side of the Leard Forest Road and the other on Therribri Road,” said Ms Woods.
“Over the past 11 days we have continued with our blockade of the workplace despite the presence of police and this action will continue.”
Ms Woods said she was “very disappointed” by the decision taken by Narrabri Shire Council earlier in the week to close down the camp.
The decision means fines can be issued to the environmentalists if they fail to comply with the move-on order which is expected to be issued in the coming days.
“We are disappointed that Narrabri Shire Council would allow itself to become a tool of fossil fuel industries,” Ms Woods added.
“They have cited the same reasons for actions taken over drilling in the Pilliga.
“This decision won’t change our determination to protect this forest from open-cut coal mining
According to the ‘Australian Mining’ website, two women on Tuesday chained themselves to excavators near the site, while a young man was suspended on a platform attached by a cable to two trees that had been ear-marked to be felled. Eight people have been arrested at the site since January 13.
Front Line Action on Coal set up a camp in the area more than 500 days ago to begin the protest of Whitehaven Coal's Maules Creek mine project.
Environmentalist Phil Spark said Narrabri Shire Council was underestimating the activists.
“If they think that by moving us from there it will make us go away, then they are wrong.
“Our movement’s growing all the time and I think that determination to see it through is increasing.”
The website claims if the mine goes ahead it ‘will destroy the Leard State Forest, affect water and force farmers off their land’.
“We’ll be continuing to take action and remain in the forest until we can protect it.”
Having lost a court case which would have prevented the $767 million project from going ahead, the group says it will continue its fight.
