Newcastle coal rail blockage on Sunday

Several coal rail deliveries to Newcastle Port, the world’s biggest coal export harbour, could be disrupted on Sunday as climate change protesters plan to occupy the rail line from Islington Park to Carrington Coal Terminal in north Sydney. As part of a six-day camp, which would include three days of preparation starting today, Friends of the Earth campaign coordinator Cam Walker said that 500 to 1000 protesters would shut down the rail network, as well as the coal loading terminal areas. Mr Walker said protesters were expecting to occupy the line for a few hours which would block several train movements, as trains run hourly, 24 hours a day. &#8220It will have a huge knock-on effect because it is such a large port,&#8221 he said. &#8220There may be 16 to 18 ships offshore waiting to come in, so if we interrupt one point of the cycle it will have a significant logistical knock-on effect.&#8221 Yesterday, Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) warned of the extreme danger that protesters faced if they entered the coal loading terminals at Carrington and Kooragang Island. PWCS managing director Matthew Watson told Lloyd’s list DCN that rail services would continue as usual and it would therefore be &#8220grossly irresponsible&#8221 for anyone to chance injury or death. &#8220We make it explicitly clear that the 24-hour heavy automated machinery in operation at our sites is only for people who are trained and authorised to be within PWCS’s perimeters,&#8221 he said. &#8220We ask for commonsense to prevail and warn protesters not to trespass upon PWCS’s sites. &#8220The last thing anyone wants is an awareness campaign ending in tragedy.&#8221 The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said in a statement to the organising group that no coal train services would be suspended and it was therefore inherently unsafe for anyone to block the rail corridor as moving trains would not be able to stop in time to avoid protesters on the line. &#8220The consequences of any unauthorised person entering the rail corridor may be dire,&#8221 an ARTC spokesman said. &#8220Penalties for breeching these acts include fines and up to three years imprisonment.&#8221 Both the ARTC and PWCS said that they would cooperate with the New South Wales police who have issued an approval permit for the march but have warned that any attempt to occupy the line would be subject to enforcement action that could lead to arrest.

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