A GROUP of protesters have taken to the streets of Maitland in a bid to push back against the state government's newly released roadmap for the future of mining in NSW.
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It comes after the NSW Government revealed its Strategic Statement on Coal Exploration and Mining which has earmarked about 178 square kilometres between Wollombi and Broke as potential area for coal exploration last month.
On Friday, the newly formed Coalfields for Climate Action planted themselves outside the Department of Planning Industry and Energy, Mineral Resources in Maitland.
It was the first protest in Maitland but Coalfields for Climate Action - which includes members from North Rothbury, Kurri Kurri and Brunkerville - have already promised they will be back again.
Coalfields for Climate Action and Maitland Greens member Jan Davis said the protest was in response to the state government's strategic statement.
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"We are an amalgam of a few groups including the Greens and environmental groups. It [the statement] was the catalyst for us getting together," she said.
"We had the worst fires we've ever had. We are in climate chaos. More coal is not what we need. "
While the mining industry provides a lot of jobs throughout Maitland and Hunter, Ms Davis said the government needed to embrace clean energy options and the opportunity for job growth in that sector.
"We don't need more coal mines. We need our taxpayers dollars not going to mining infrastructure but instead into renewable energy - especially here in the Hunter. We want to create jobs in the Hunter," she said.
The newly formed Coalfields for Climate Action has been canvassing Hunter politicians but Ms Davis said they were keen to expand further into the Upper Hunter.
"It's the first time we have protested at Maitland, normally we have been doing it in Cessnock at Joel Fitzgibbon and Clayton Barr," she said.
"We will be back every fortnight but if we can get more people then we will be there every week.
"We hope Coalfields for Climate Action will spread up the valley to Singleton and Muswellbrook. We have a Facebook page and people should come along
"We need to send this message to our politicians. We don't want to keep going in climate chaos."
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