Rising Tide: Huge police presence at flotilla protest and festival at Port of Newcastle

Climate activists ignored pleas from NSW Police on Friday, with Rising Tide protesters entering the surf in an attempt to block access to Newcastle Port.

Climate activists ignored pleas from NSW Police on Friday, with Rising Tide protesters entering the surf in an attempt to block access to Newcastle Port.

Hundreds gathered at the foreshore taking kayaks and other flotation devices into the harbour as part of the climate activist group’s “People’s Blockade”.

The event sparked controversy in the lead up as the group sought legal protection for the 50-hour flotilla blockade of the shipping channel which was fought by NSW Police.

The NSW Government placed an exclusion zone on the port to stop protesters before the move was overturned in the NSW Supreme Court late Thursday.

Protesters take to the water at the Newcastle Port protest at Horseshoe Beach. Picture: Adam Yip

Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart praised the 11th hour bid to overturn the exclusion zone.

“We won. We have seen our government do everything they can to shut and yet here we are,” she yelled.

“It’s become crystal clear they want to protect the interests of the coal and gas billionaires than protect everyday Australians from dangerous climate change.

“I say to you Chris Minns, Jo Haylen, to Anthony Albanese, we are here and you cannot silence us.”

Colourful outfits were worn by protesters. Picture: Adam Yip

Former Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon slammed the protesters on social media.

“I’m in Newcastle watching these misguided ideologues and their foolish friends,” he posted.

“In addition to blocking our valuable, job creating coal exports, they’re busy firing up their gas-fuelled barbecues. Very expensive police presence here too!”

An early march along Newcastle’s Foreshore kicked off the first day of heavy protesting, aimed at stopping coal leaving the port.

Mounted police, tactical response, police jet skis, motorbike patrols and PolAir made themselves known at Horseshoe Beach, where protesters gathered before getting into the water.

Police speak to a person on small boat at Newcastle harbour during the Newcastle Port protest. Picture: Adam Yip

As protesters made their way down to the beach, marine command issued stern warnings not to cross into the harbour’s shipping channel.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Port of Newcastle said the port was “operating as per the proposed shipping schedule”.

Police are out in force. Picture: Adam Yip

Police watch two kayakers paddle past at Newcastle harbour during the Newcastle Port protest. Picture: Adam Yip

Large police presence at Horseshoe beach, Newcastle for the Newcastle Port protest. Picture: Adam Yip

Protester Vicki Gaillard said she was inspired to see young people standing up.

“I find it absolutely inspiring to see the young people standing up because it is their lives that are going to be so drastically affected,” she said.

“I think it is about time the government listened to the children.”

Protesters Simon Clough dressed like a penguin for the protest, saying “lives and those of our children and our entire environment depends on this”.

Protesters watch on as a barge leaves Newcastle Port from Horseshoe beach, Newcastle during the Newcastle Port protest. Photographer: Adam Yip

Lord Mayor of Newcastle Ross Kerridge said while he granted Rising Tide council permission to congregate at the foreshore, he warned against any unlawful behaviour.

“I would encourage them to be very careful and to stay within the law and to stay safe,” he said.

“While I very much respect the right of any group in the civil society to protest they always need to remember that if they take action which alienate a lot of the community, they won’t do their cause any good. I’d encourage them to continue to protest peacefully and within the law and obey police directions.”

Dr Ross Kerridge said he warned protesters against any unlawful behaviour.

Mr Kerridge said the climate group had worked hard organising the massive event.

“It was obvious having put so much time and effort into this there were going to be thousands of people coming to Newcastle anyway,” he added.

“It’s better that we work around this rather than stop them altogether because we were never going to stop them and if we had tried to it would have resulted in a whole lot of ugly confrontation.

“We need to negotiate and compromise something that is acceptable to both and work within that.”