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Some 15 people have been arrested after climate activists locked themselves in vehicles to block access to a Canterbury coal mine.
More than 30 Extinction Rebellion activists began the protest at 4.30am Monday, blocking the access road to Bathurst Resources’ Canterbury Coal Mine.
Other activists are believed to have locked themselves inside bulldozers at the site in Malvern Hills, about 20 kilometers west of Darfield.
Stuff It is his understanding that at least 15 people were arrested. Police were concerned for the safety of the protesters as cold weather and snow were forecast.
Chris Skelton / Stuff
Extinction Rebellion activists have chained themselves to vehicles blocking the access road to Bathurst Resources Canterbury coal mine.
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A police spokesman did not confirm how many people had been arrested, but said that a “number of protesters” had been arrested after chaining themselves to machinery in the mine area.
“While the police recognize the legal right to protest, our priority is to ensure safety and respect the law.
“In this case, it is not safe for the protesters to be in this area.”
Lee Kenny / Stuff
Police remove Extinction Rebellion protesters from the Canterbury coal mine site.
Police would remain at the scene and respond appropriately to any problems that may arise, the spokesperson said.
All trucks going to and from the site had been stopped and the workers had been told not to come to the mine.
The protest was in reaction to Bathurst Resources seeking consent from Environment Canterbury (ECan) and the Selwyn District Council to expand the mine and increase coal extraction, an Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said on Monday.
The site is currently 52 hectares, of which 38 are mined, and the owner Bathurst Coal is seeking “retrospective land use consent for existing and future earthworks.” Approximately 95,000 tons of coal are produced at the mine each year and sold for industrial and commercial use.
“To address the climate crisis we must stop burning coal,” said Josie Butler, a member of Extinction Rebellion.
“As a Maori woman, I am here today to defend Papatūānuku (mother earth) and protect our land for future generations.”
Supplied
Plans to expand the Canterbury coal mine by another 18 hectares have been presented to Environment Canterbury and the Selwyn district council.
Butler said most of the coal from the mine was burned at Fonterra’s milk factories to dehydrate the milk into powdered milk.
The group was calling for Bathurst and the central government to work together to dismantle the coal mine and ensure the safety and well-being of the workers, he said.
Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Zoe Deans, who grew up on a farm 5 kilometers from the mine, said protesters were prepared to be at the site for several days.
The group was asking Bathurst to withdraw its request to expand the site.
“Coal is a climate killer, we have seen the impact of the climate emergency. California on fire, Australia last summer. It’s downright scary.
“We know that we can’t keep burning coal if we want to have a secure future,” Deans said.
CHRIS SKELTON / Things
Zoe Deans grew up near the mine and says she joined the protest to draw attention to the expansion plan.
Ciara Foley, 16, of Lyttelton, was the youngest protester at the scene.
The Christchurch student said she was not worried about being arrested.
“I believe that my future exceeds a law of transgression,” he said.
“We cannot afford to expand coal mines in a climate emergency, we need to close them and provide an alternative for workers.”
David Goldsmith was one of the arrested protesters.
He said he was released without charge but expected to receive a letter regarding the illegal entry.
“I definitely don’t regret going there and doing that, right at the crime scene,” he said.
Bathurst CEO Richard Tacon said the 30 protesters were “disrupting the legal activity of about 35 company employees.”
“We are concerned about the health and safety of protesters who are trespassing on private property in winter conditions. Bathurst takes health and safety in the workplace very seriously, ”he said.
CHRIS SKELTON / Things
A police officer drives one of the protesters away from the blockade.
“Left unchecked, this disruption will lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions in New Zealand from transporting coal much greater distances to Canterbury customers, hundreds of kilometers instead of tens of kilometers.”
Coal Action Network Aotearoa spokeswoman Cindy Baxter said the group stood in solidarity with the Extinction Rebellion protesters.
“The developed world must stop using coal by 2030 if we want to keep global warming at 1.5 ° C under the Paris Agreement, and this should include Fonterra and the rest of the dairy industry.”
