Community concerns almost over-shadowed the official opening of the Port of Newcastle’s new billion dollar coal loader.
By first light, it was clear climate change activists had slipped through tight security organised for today’s opening. In large letters Quit Coal had been painted along the side of a ship under the Coal Infrastructure Group’s Kooragang loader.
On land, officials and members of the Transport Workers Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, protested the lower rate of pay deal struck with workers at the new loader. The sentiment was shared by local state members of parliament as well as Premier Kristina Keneally who all boycotted the opening.
The first stage of the new loader is expected to increase coal output from the port by 30 million tonnes a year.
