Rising Tide Australia

Protesters in kayaks today disrupted one of the largest dredging operations in the world, and the expansion of the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle.

Thirteen water-borne protesters paddled into the way of dredging machines in the South Arm of the Hunter River, calling on both State and Federal Governments to place the interests of the environment and the broader community ahead of coal corporations.

Dredging operations at the site ground to a halt for over an hour due to the protest. Water Police eventually moved all protesters out of the area without charge.

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“The NSW Government has thrown proper planning process out the window with BHP's massive dredging operation – one of the biggest in the world,” said Steve Phillips, spokesperson for protest organisers Rising Tide Newcastle. “The whole process has been rushed and compromised in order to fast-track the construction of a third coal export terminal in Newcastle, in which BHP has a controlling interest. Dredging machines have now moved into contaminated areas with the sole purpose of facilitating the construction of new coal berths. This is despite the failure of BHP to yet come up with a safe and proven plan for disposal of the most contaminated sediment.

“The purpose of this dredging was supposed to be to clean up the river, but instead, the health of the Hunter River Estuary, and all who depend on it, is being threatened in order to fast-track coal exports.”

Rising Tide is concerned that the extreme influence of the coal lobby in Australian politics will also lead to further compromises in the Federal Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

“We call on the Rudd Government to resist the intense pressure they are under from the export coal industry for cash 'compensation' hand-outs”, continued Phillips. “The coal industry does not need to be compensated, perpetuated, or pandered to. Coal is the number one threat to the climate in Australia and the world, and it needs to be phased out, pure and simple.”

“Instead of focussing on compensation, the Rudd Government needs to urgently implement a plan to shift workers and communities that are currently dependent on coal into sustainable alternative industries.”