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Climate activists have stopped a coal train near Newcastle in a protest over the federal government's approval for three NSW coal mines to extend their operation for another three-to-four decades.
Police were called to Sandgate about 10am on Wednesday, where a group of protesters had climbed the coal wagon.
By about 11:30am, police began removing them and four people were seen being taken from the scene by officers.
Protester Briohny Coglin said the action was a "last resort" following Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's announcement on Tuesday that the already-operational mines would be allowed to extend their operations.
Police boarded the coal train at Sandgate to remove protesters. (ABC Newcastle: Lillian Watkins)
"We've got every leading scientist and expert in the world telling us that the only way to stop these extreme weather events and to make sure that we've got a planet that's safe for our children is to stop burning fossil fuels," she said.
"And yet here we are, with the government making decisions like this.
"We're absolutely desperate."
Two mines, MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant and Ashton Coal Operations' Ravensworth Underground Mine, are in the Upper Hunter.
The third mine, Whitehaven Coal's Narrabri coal mine, is 30 kilometres south of Narrabri at Baan Baa.
Whitehaven Coal declined to be interviewed by the ABC but said in a statement the approval for its Stage 3 project was overdue, claiming there had been "significant delays" from "protracted State and Federal Government assessment processes".
"The EIS for Narrabri Stage 3 was lodged in October 2020, and the Project is expected to extend the life of the mine from 2031 to 2044, support around 500 continuing jobs in regional NSW, and entail a significant economic benefit to the state."
Whitehaven Coal's Narrabri mine is one of three projects to be given expansion approval from the federal government. (Whitehaven Coal)
Farmer Sally Hunter, who lives near the Baan Baa mine said the community was "reeling" from the announcement.
"They are still getting their heads around what this really means," she told ABC New England North West.
"The emissions proposed from this mine are going to be worse and worse into the future."
MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant mine near Muswellbrook has received approval for an expansion to its operations. (ABC: 7.30)
The president of the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group, Wendy Wales said the move goes against a need to reduce carbon emissions.
"We struggle in the Upper Hunter, or in Australia really, to fathom Australia's role in putting fuel on the fire of climate change," she said.
Federal Labor Hunter MP and former coal miner Dan Repacholi said the government's decision to approve the mine extensions was necessary to get renewable projects off the ground.
"Coal mining produces the power, produces the steel, to make these renewable projects actually happen," he said.
"Without coal, they will never ever happen."