Climate Camp protesters locked on at Dendrobium mine. Credit Damian Baker
By Rich Bowden
Three women and a man have chained themselves to the conveyor belt of a coal mine near Helensburgh, NSW, ABC News is reporting.
The demonstrators have attached themselves to Dendrobium mine ahead of a planned protest march to the Metropolitan Colliery as part of Climate Camp ’09.
One of the group, Clare Silcock, told the ABC the direct action is aimed at showing what impact the coal mine is having on the local environment.
“It’s part of the climate camp that’s been going on at Helensburgh, which is around the theme of water, climate and jobs to protest against the expansion and continued export of so much coal from the southern coalfields,” she said.
“It’s having a negative local impact on water and also obviously the greater climate impact.”
Marchers are looking to draw attention to the State Government’s approval of an expansion of the colliery, said the group’s website.
Protesters contend the $50 million expansion will pollute important local water supplies at Woronara – one of Sydney’s most reliable drinking sources.
Reports have the police in negotiation with the chained group.
“We’re currently in negotiation with the police, well the police are here, I guess as long as it takes to get us off – probably we’re looking at another couple of hours timeframe,” she said.
More photos and footage of Climate Camp ’09 to follow.
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