Protesters arrested at Jondaryan coal blockade
PROTESTERS have been arrested at Jondaryan after entering the New Hope Group coal loading facility during a rally this morning.
Cassie McMahon, a spokeswoman for protest group Six Degrees, said two men climbed to the top of a coal stockpile before unfurling a banner which read New Hope: Your coal dump is choking Jondaryan.
The Brisbane men, aged 29 and 22, were arrested and charged with trespassing.
Ms McMahon said three women also stood in front of a coal truck as it tried to enter through the gate of the facility.
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"We are campaigning over the rapid expansion of the coal and gas industry in Queensland," Ms McMahon said.
"We'll keep on fighting this issue (at Jondaryan) because we feel the coal dump is inappropriately located."
Jondaryan resident of 30 years Doris Lander said she was grateful for the support of the protest group, many of whose members were from Brisbane.
"This isn't their fight but they are fighting for the greater good of everyone," Miss Lander said.
"I've been trying to get somebody in the government to notice our problem out here."
She said coal dust from the facility got on "everything".
"This is a great health concern."
The New Hope Group's Chief Operating Officer Bruce Denney said the company acted immediately to make sure everyone at the facility, including the small number of protesters, were as safe as possible.
"We respect the right of anyone to voice their opinion but there are appropriate ways of doing this," he said.
"These people placed themselves in a potentially very dangerous position unnecessarily and also risked the safety of our staff at the site by their actions."
