The date was held over from October 11.

The case was brought by the Maules Creek Community Council following changes to biodiversity management plans for the mine.

The council said the biodiversity management plans were submitted by Whitehaven Coal to clear large sections of the Leard State Forest outside previously approved times.

“There is no need for these changes,” Maules Creek Community Council spokesman Phil Laird said.

“Whitehaven Coal have indicated that their open-cut coal project is on schedule and we have no idea why they have sought these changes as the public is getting mixed messages.

“We believe media statements made by the company completely contradict its need for the revised plan and we are calling on Planning Minister Prue Goward to reject the new clearing timetable put before her department.”

Mr Laird said the council believed there had been “real issues” uncovered by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the council would be making a detailed submission about Maules Creek.

The mine has been plagued by protests, with another this morning as protester Chantelle Brown, 23 of Wauchope, locked herself to a concrete structure to try to block access to the site.

The Leard Forest Alliance is calling for work to stop on the Maules Creek Project while a full audit of the planning approval process at both state and federal levels takes place. 

“There is no Planet B. There is no ‘economic growth’ on a dead planet,” Ms Brown said. “We are not going anywhere, and we know Whitehaven are shaking in their boots.”

There has been a protest camp set up in opposition to the Maules Creek project for more than two years, and this year has seen 264 people arrested in protest as part of the campaign.