Six arrested after anti-logging protests at Coffs Harbour

Teenagers and women aged in their 70s were arrested at Coffs Harbour today in an orchestrated series of protests against logging.

Police will allege some of those secured themselves to machinery.

Six people have been arrested after police stormed crack of day anti-logging protests at Coffs Harbour.

The protesters made their stand at two sites - allegedly ‘locking on’ to heavy machinery and a concrete truck.

Half-an-hour before sunrise today officers attached to Coffs Clarence Police District, along with specialist police rescue resources, spoke with a group of people at Coramba Rd, Karangi, in relation to an alleged unauthorised protest.

Police will allege some of those secured themselves to machinery and a cement-filled barrel.

Three 17-year-olds - two boys and a girl - were arrested after being ‘freed’ by Police Rescue Officers.

A 49-year-old woman was also arrested.

Police attended protests at two sites at Coffs Harbour in the early hours.

All four were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

The three 17-year-olds were dealt with under the Young Offenders Act for aggravated unlawful entry on enclosed lands.

The 49-year-old has been charged with fail to comply with lawful direction of police officer, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.

She was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on August 9.

Coffs Harbour Police Station.

At 7am officers went to a further alleged unauthorised protest - at Englands Rd, Boambee.

Officers arrested two women, aged 74 and 76, who had allegedly secured themselves to machinery.

They have been charged with aggravated unlawful entry on inclosed lands.

The pair were granted strict conditional bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on August 9.

Bellingen Activist Network (BAN) released photos from the protests.

In a statement, it said two HSC students had locked themselves to a cement filled barrel and a third onto logging machinery to prevent operations in Orara East State Forest.

A few kilometres away in Boambee State Forest, the BAN said two grandmothers has halted logging machinery by locking themselves to the arm of a harvester.

The activist network said a tree-climber had also erected a ‘tree-sit’ with the intent to stay “for as long as it takes to protect Boambee State Forest from logging”.