UPDATE: SIX protesters have been arrested at the Maules Creek mine near Narrabri, according to protest spokeswoman Georgina Woods.
Blockades are being manned at the entrances to the Leard State Forest by about 40 protestors from the district and further afield, in an attempt to stall clearing of the forest for construction of rail infrastructure.
Confirmation of the arrests has been sought from the Police media unit.
Police remain at the scene and the protesters say they will maintain the blockade for as long as possible.
First-time protester Raymond McLaren, 75, Tamworth, is understood to be among those arrested.
Mr McLaren said: “This protest is a remarkable convergence of people with a common interest in protecting a unique forest. I am here to defend the forest.”
Whitehaven said in a statement: “The Maules Creek project has passed a comprehensive, independent assessment process and protest groups should respect the final judgement of government consent authorities that it proceed".
“Protests at our project sites are a nuisance but they will not deter Whitehaven from getting on with the job of building Maules Creek and delivering the substantial economic benefits which we know the local community strongly supports.”
In a statement, the protest group said it is concerned about impacts to land, water and their health.
“The Maules Creek mine will destroy irreplaceable critically endangered woodland in the Leard State Forest, draw down the aquifer used by local farmers and release thousands of tonnes of coal dust onto surrounding farms,” the statement said.
The protesters read out a statement from Gomeroi elders, traditional owners of Leard State Forest, which they say expresses anger at the loss of cultural heritage and practice and Whitehaven’s failure to protect spiritual places of the Gomeroi.
In late September, local action group Northern Inland Council for the Environment (NICE) had its appeal to the Federal Court to stall the mine turned down.
NICE was seeking a legal injunction to stop Whitehaven clearing land in Leard State Forest, preventing construction works while the Federal Court makes a decision on a full case, also brought by NICE, appealing the legality of the mine’s environmental approvals.
NICE argued the Maules Creek approval, granted by then-Environment Minister Tony Burke in February was flawed.
The NSW Environmental Defenders Office, representing NICE, argued Mr Burke breached the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act by allowing his decision to be influenced by the release of “commercially sensitive” correspondence.