Police have made several arrests in the Pilliga over the past few days after protesters attempted to stop Santos moving machinery.
The action began on Sunday after James Tremain, of Sydney, locked himself onto a vehicle for several hours which prevented movement of a Santos convoy.
The Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) was asked by police to attend and cut Mr Tremain free. He was arrested and taken into custody.
A second woman, Frida Forsberg, of Queensland, later attached herself to another vehicle before also being cut free, arrested and taken into custody.
Both were charged by police.
Santos attempted to re-commence rig moving activities yesterday, however further protest activity interrupted the move with Carmel Flint locking herself onto a
vehicle.
Protest spokeswoman Crystal Hodgson, who has told The Courier she moved from Maitland to Narrabri to help protest against mining activities, said Ms Flint attached herself under a truck for several hours before releasing herself. She was arrested by police.
Two other people were also arrested after police issued a move on order to the group - Peter Thompson from Coonabarabran and David Mould of Dubbo.
This morning, Cherie Robinson who lives between Pilliga and Coonamble and Katherine Marchment of Victoria were arrested after standing on a road and preventing passage of a Santos convoy.
Ms Hodgson said the group’s protest activities will continue to occur against Santos’ coal seam gas operation.
“It is a difficult time due to the drought, these actions are being driven by the local community so the next step is to regroup to assess our capacity and come together again to plan increased actions for the future,” she said.
“We think it’s really significant that the outrage from the local community has forced Santos to require a police escort to require them to conduct activities in the forest.”
The group’s actions are being assisted by The Wilderness Society and Lock The Gate.
In a statement issued through The Wildness Society, Mrs Robinson said she was concerned about the potential effects of coal seam gas activities.
“I am very concerned about the impact of coal seam gas on groundwater resources, especially now, whilst my farm suffers the effects of severe water shortages as a result of the drought,” she said.
“Compounding the problem by risking of coal seam gas draw downs and groundwater contamination is too much to bear.”
Santos said it has received approval to carry out its activities.
“It’s important to note that Santos has approval for the work being carried out and prioritises safe operations,” said a spokeswoman.
“The current protest activity has at times put at risk the safety of the protesters and our workers.”
The spokeswoman added that several members of the community have contacted the company to express support for its operations.
“Santos Narrabri staff are confident we have local support and had several local community members and landholders stop by the shopfront yesterday to voice their support for Santos,” she said.
Work has continued and is expected to be completed by today.
“Today we re-commenced the rig move with a police escort,” said the spokeswoman.
“Two individuals ran in front of the moving vehicle and were immediately arrested. The rig move is continuing and should be completed today.”
Pilliga business operator Maria Rickert said protest activities were required because governments aren’t heeding their message.
“Local people have tried all manner of letter writing and Narrabri Council requests to raise our concerns with the impacts of these coal seam gas fields in our region, yet we are being put in a position where we are risking arrest in order for Santos and the government to take heed of our message,” she said in a statement issued through The Wilderness Society.
“I have great respect for the police who are doing thier job and treating the community kindly overall. The police do a very good job and I feel sorry for them that they have to come in and sort out Santos’ mess.”