November 2nd, 2014
The bats have been released! Mass protests against Whitehaven Coal.
Maules Creek Mine Main access: A young woman has locked herself to the inside of a car, blocking the main access point for Maules creek mine.
UPDATE: Police rescue have arrived on the scene
Maules Creek Mine, inside: The railway line being built inside the mine site has been blocked by a woman suspended in a tree with the rope going across the construction site.
UPDATE: Workers have been able to go under the ropes, trucks are still being held up.
Maules Creek Mine Hitachi Digger: 1 woman has scaled the super digger while another woman has locked herself to the huge machine.
Leard Forest Alliance Spokesperson
Murray Drechsler
0418754869
MAULES CREEK 3/11/2014
Over eighty people have set up separate blockades on and around the construction site of the controversial Maules Creek mine, near Narrabri, in a ramp up of peaceful action to prevent the mine from depressurising the water table.
Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek mine has been seriously delayed by a growing movement of farmers, environmentalists and other supporters concerned that farm bores will fail due to the 600 megalitres of water the mine would use each year.
The Leard Forest Alliance is calling on NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes to stop construction work on the mine while a parliamentary inquiry into planning decisions is underway.
Spokesperson for the Leard Forest Alliance Murray Drechsler said “The amount of water Whitehaven plans to use over the life of the Maules Creek mine would fill a third of Lake Burley Griffin and this is water that should be used for food production.”
“The community has the courage to stand up for water ahead of coal and we expect Planning Minister Rob Stokes to do the same.” Continued Mr. Drechsler.
The mine’s state and federal approvals were granted before Whitehaven had finished their water management plan and that fact was included in a submission to the parliamentary inquiry.
Twitter:
@FLACcoal #Leardblockade
