Seven adults will face court following unauthorised protests in the state’s north last week.
About 6.30am on Friday 26 June 2026, officers from Newcastle City Police District responded to multiple locations within the Newcastle Local Government Area regarding trespass and unauthorised protest activity.
Police were told six protestors allegedly entered a rail corridor at Mangrove Road, Sandgate, with the intention of stopping a coal train.
Security guards intercepted the group, with police later arresting two of the protestors.
A short time later, police arrested a further two protestors attempting to leave the area on Riverside Drive, Mayfield West, while another protestor was arrested attempting to leave the scene in a motor vehicle.
About 10am the same day, officers arrested a 66-year-old woman outside a building on Hunter Street, Newcastle, after police intercepted a group of protestors allegedly attempting to gain access inside the premises.
Following inquiries – about 2pm later that day – a 23-year-old man attended Waratah Police Station where he was subsequently arrested.
The seven individuals arrested were conveyed to either Waratah or Newcastle Police Station.
Those arrested included:
- an 18-year-old man – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business
- a 54-year-old man – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business
- a 22-year-old woman – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business
- a 20-year-old woman – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business
- a 23-year-old man – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business
- a 62-year-old man – charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere with business, and
- a 66-year-old woman – issued a Court Attendance Notice for enter enclosed non-agricultural lands – interfere etc business.
The first five individuals were all granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 August 2026, while the 62-year-old man was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division – Court 2 on Saturday 27 June 2026, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 August 2026. The 66-year-old woman will appear in the same Court on Thursday 23 July 2026.
