Anti-mining activists protesting the controversial Maules Creek coal mine are being accused of cutting lines to explosives and threatening mine workers' lives.
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It's alleged trespassers, intent on disrupting approved operations at the Whitehaven mine, last week entered the site in the night and cut 187 downlines attached to extremely powerful explosives, prepared as part of the mine operations.
The trespassers are alleged to have attempted to fill in the blast holes with dirt and rubble.
NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said the actions of these "industrial saboteurs" have put their own lives and the lives of Whitehaven personnel at risk.
“This reckless and dangerous act of industrial sabotage is a wake up call for the NSW government. Those responsible have directly threatened lives, including their own, by tampering with powerful industrial explosive charges used in mine operations,” Mr Galilee said.
“Violent and dangerous activities have escalated in recent months. As well as deliberate trespassing and interference with heavy equipment by protesters, a security vehicle has been rammed, gates have been blockaded or destroyed, and now we have had industrial explosives being sabotaged.
“We have raised safety concerns about the trespassing of protesters with the NSW government on a number of occasions. I hope we will now see action."
Mr Galilee said the NSW government must act immediately with tough penalties for professional activists and anyone else illegally accessing mine sites, after the latest incident.
“Without action from the Government to deter this type of illegal access activity it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt, despite the best efforts of police and emergency services personnel and site workers to ensure safety.”
“People have a right to protest, but it must be within the law. No-one has the right to put others at risk. And when people choose to ignore the law they should be held accountable for their actions.”
“It’s also time for the Greens, Lock the Gate, Greenpeace, and others that have so far condoned illegal protest activity to publicly condemn this latest dangerous and extreme act of sabotage. Any refusal to do so is tacit endorsement of risking the lives of others to make a political point,” he said.
Spokesperson for Front Line Action on Coal - the group that has been camped out at the Leard State Forest and led many previous protests at the mine site - Phil Evans said he had no knowledge of the recent explosive lines events and supports a full police investigation.
"We are all committed to the ideals of non-violence and do not endorse or use property damage as part of campaigning," Mr Evans said.
