Several climate protesters have been arrested after they tried to paddle through a police water checkpoint at the world's biggest coal port and disrupted coal ships.
Three people were charged on Saturday with with failing to comply with the direction and police and given provisional bail, event organiser Rising Tide said. They were ordered to stay at least 5 kilometres away from the Port of Newcastle.
Two were released without charge, organisers said, and the status of four was unknown.
NSW Police on late Saturday afternoon said three people — two men aged 27 and 60, and a 26-year-old woman — had been arrested and taken to Newcastle police station where they were assisting police with inquiries. They did not say anyone had been charged.
"The police operation is ongoing and more information will be provided when it becomes available," NSW Police said in a statement.