A co-ordinated campaign by up to 150 anti fossil fuels activists targeted several Namoi Valley coal production and handling sites on the weekend.
The protesters set out to disrupt work at the mines and the Gunnedah coal loader, reportedly chaining themselves to gates and equipment and climbing mine structures.
However, a Whitehaven Coal spokesperson said the activists had not caused significant interruption to production programs.
The protesters did not represent the wider community, Whitehaven said. “Many locals across the community are sick and tired of having this circus on their doorstep.”
In a statement, Whitehaven Coal said the weekend protests at a number of Whitehaven’s production and coal handling sites on Monday had no material impact on the business, despite claims to the contrary.
“What the protests undoubtedly achieved was frustration for workers trying to get to site at the start of the working week, and headaches for local police who had to be diverted from
community policing tasks to deal with this continuing nuisance” the spokesperson said.
“That these groups feel they can interfere with the livelihoods of local people and families, and needlessly occupy the time of police who should otherwise be keeping the community safe, is just ‘green entitlement.’
“The claim that they are the voice of the local community is absurd.
“Being part of a local community is about more that than pitching a tent in a paddock, unfurling a banner, and telling everyone else how they should think.
“This is not a broad-based community movement at all, and many locals are sick and tired of having this circus on their doorstep.”
There have been many arrests at Whitehaven’s Maules Creek project in the past two years as the mine construction proceeded.
Activists have chained themselves to
equipment and vehicles, drawing warnings from police that they were endangering their safety and the safety of the mine personnel.
Recently, explosive charges being readied for blasting at the Maules Creek mine were allegedly tampered with by activists, drawing the strongest warnings of the dangers the action presented.
Maules Creek mine is expected to be begin railing coal from the site in March next year.