An activist hangs a sign in a tree in a protest against the development of the Maules Creek coalmine near Boggabri in north-west New South Wales, Australia on 13 January 2014. Photo: AAP

13 January 2014 (AAP) – Protesters have locked themselves on to bulldozers as they fight the development of the controversial Maules Creek coalmine in north-west New South Wales. About 30 activists, including local Indigenous community members, on Monday blockaded heavy vehicles which are at the Boggabri site to build roads and a rail line, Georgina Woods from the Leard Forest Alliance said. If the road to Whitehaven Coal’s proposed $767m open-cut mine is cut through the forest then animals, plants and sacred Aboriginal sites would be lost, she said. And while admitting that stopping the project was “a bit of a long shot’’, Woods said the protesters, stationed throughout the large forest, would not be leaving anytime soon. “It’s our intention to remain here the rest of the week and until this forest gets a reprieve and it’s protected from this coalmine,” she said. [more]

Protesters lock themselves to bulldozers to fight coalmine development