PROTESTORS staged action at Gunnedah this morning, when 65-year-old John Ross, locked himself to the front gates of the Whitehaven Coal Handling Preparation Plant, on the town's outskirts, blocking access to the facility.
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Mr Ross, a small business owner, said, "This mine should never have been approved by the government".
"The amount of money that is being provided through subsidies to coal mining could provide immense benefits for community and the environment if invested in renewable energy," he said.
Police Rescue Squad officers arrived on scene at around midday where they cut him free from the gates.
He was arrested and taken to Gunnedah Police Station.
Meanwhile, a large contingent of police officers from outside the Oxley LAC and the NSW Police Air Wing have arrived in the North West, as protest action against the Maules Creek coal mine, near Boggabri, ramps up.
Read more here: Police prepared for action
The 10-day ActUp4 campaign began on Friday and will continue until Tuesday, April 28.
