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The Advertiser
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Rising Tide vows harbour blockade will go ahead, regardless of council approval
Rising Tide, the Newcastle-based protest group responsible for blockading the harbour in 2024, say regardless of whether the City of Newcastle approves its application to repeat the action in 2025, its protests will go ahead in November. The harbour blockade, which became the subject of a Supreme Court ruling and an 11th-hour victory for the protesters when the court overturned state efforts to lock them out of the Camp Shortland waterfront last year, is slated for a re-run later this year. Public submissions opened last month, as the group revealed its plans to occupy Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East and Richardson Park in Hamilton North opposite the Newcastle showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. The public exhibition period is understood to have been inundated with over 1000 responses, included hundreds of hard-copy filings that the group submitted in person, which will now be reviewed by council staff and submitted for councillor vote in an upcoming meeting. Rising Tide has framed the high volume of submissions as a win for the group, arguing that "Novocastrians support this family-friendly, community protest". "Regardless of the outcome at council, we do intend to host a protest in November," Organiser Alexa Stuart told the Newcastle Herald. "If council were to reject our application, it would certainly make it harder for the Newcastle community to participate like previous years, but in Australia we have a protected, democratic right to protest." "Having access to council land is important for enabling us to host a safe and highly organised event." The protest became a flash point of political debate after last year's blockaded ended in 170 arrests as activists defied Police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel. Of those arrested, 133 have pleaded not guilty to serious disruption or obstruction of a major facility. The first four defendants will face trial at Newcastle Local Court in October. A 30-hour blockade took place in 2023, but police arrested 109 people after they stayed in the water for longer in a move which attracted global media attention. Still, the group argued in court last year that protesters were not all seeking to get arrested to amplify their cause. Briohny Coglin, a lawyer who filed protest forms for Rising Tide, said its aim was to draw attention to governments continuing to approve new coal and gas projects, and organisers would instruct participants to follow directions and co-operate with police. Last month, Nationals MLC Wes Fang labelled Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge as "gullible" for entertaining the group's application again after he was "deceived last year". Mr Fang said the City of Newcastle should "stand firm against those lawbreakers" this year. In a brief statement last week, the City of Newcastle did not respond to questions over how many submissions were received, though Rising Tide has claimed the number was close to 1300 and may represent a record for the city, but confirmed that it was a "significant number". "These submissions have been received through our formal Have Your Say online portal, along with paper and email correspondence," a council spokesman said. "We are now in the process of collating and reviewing submissions, with the results to be included in a report to a future Council meeting." Ms Stuart said the group believed there was "overwhelming community support for this event" and, notwithstanding state opposition, urged the council to "listen to their constituents and act in the best interests of our community". "In their submissions, people frequently highlighted last year's event as fun and family-friendly, with free live music, a strong sense of community, and an atmosphere that was clean, respectful, inclusive, and safe," Ms Stuart said. "Our priority is to create a safe, family-friendly, and powerful space for thousands of people to come together and call for new jobs and support for the Hunter region, and a safe future for generations to come." "Every year climate impacts, like floods and storms, are getting worse and so more and more people are standing up to demand a fast and fair transition for coal workers, and a safe future for us all." Rising Tide has called for immediate cancellation of new fossil fuel projects, higher taxes on exports and an end to coal shipments from Newcastle by 2030. Rising Tide, the Newcastle-based protest group responsible for blockading the harbour in 2024, say regardless of whether the City of Newcastle approves its application to repeat the action in 2025, its protests will go ahead in November. The harbour blockade, which became the subject of a Supreme Court ruling and an 11th-hour victory for the protesters when the court overturned state efforts to lock them out of the Camp Shortland waterfront last year, is slated for a re-run later this year. Public submissions opened last month, as the group revealed its plans to occupy Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East and Richardson Park in Hamilton North opposite the Newcastle showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. The public exhibition period is understood to have been inundated with over 1000 responses, included hundreds of hard-copy filings that the group submitted in person, which will now be reviewed by council staff and submitted for councillor vote in an upcoming meeting. Rising Tide has framed the high volume of submissions as a win for the group, arguing that "Novocastrians support this family-friendly, community protest". "Regardless of the outcome at council, we do intend to host a protest in November," Organiser Alexa Stuart told the Newcastle Herald. "If council were to reject our application, it would certainly make it harder for the Newcastle community to participate like previous years, but in Australia we have a protected, democratic right to protest." "Having access to council land is important for enabling us to host a safe and highly organised event." The protest became a flash point of political debate after last year's blockaded ended in 170 arrests as activists defied Police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel. Of those arrested, 133 have pleaded not guilty to serious disruption or obstruction of a major facility. The first four defendants will face trial at Newcastle Local Court in October. A 30-hour blockade took place in 2023, but police arrested 109 people after they stayed in the water for longer in a move which attracted global media attention. Still, the group argued in court last year that protesters were not all seeking to get arrested to amplify their cause. Briohny Coglin, a lawyer who filed protest forms for Rising Tide, said its aim was to draw attention to governments continuing to approve new coal and gas projects, and organisers would instruct participants to follow directions and co-operate with police. Last month, Nationals MLC Wes Fang labelled Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge as "gullible" for entertaining the group's application again after he was "deceived last year". Mr Fang said the City of Newcastle should "stand firm against those lawbreakers" this year. In a brief statement last week, the City of Newcastle did not respond to questions over how many submissions were received, though Rising Tide has claimed the number was close to 1300 and may represent a record for the city, but confirmed that it was a "significant number". "These submissions have been received through our formal Have Your Say online portal, along with paper and email correspondence," a council spokesman said. "We are now in the process of collating and reviewing submissions, with the results to be included in a report to a future Council meeting." Ms Stuart said the group believed there was "overwhelming community support for this event" and, notwithstanding state opposition, urged the council to "listen to their constituents and act in the best interests of our community". "In their submissions, people frequently highlighted last year's event as fun and family-friendly, with free live music, a strong sense of community, and an atmosphere that was clean, respectful, inclusive, and safe," Ms Stuart said. "Our priority is to create a safe, family-friendly, and powerful space for thousands of people to come together and call for new jobs and support for the Hunter region, and a safe future for generations to come." "Every year climate impacts, like floods and storms, are getting worse and so more and more people are standing up to demand a fast and fair transition for coal workers, and a safe future for us all." Rising Tide has called for immediate cancellation of new fossil fuel projects, higher taxes on exports and an end to coal shipments from Newcastle by 2030. Rising Tide, the Newcastle-based protest group responsible for blockading the harbour in 2024, say regardless of whether the City of Newcastle approves its application to repeat the action in 2025, its protests will go ahead in November. The harbour blockade, which became the subject of a Supreme Court ruling and an 11th-hour victory for the protesters when the court overturned state efforts to lock them out of the Camp Shortland waterfront last year, is slated for a re-run later this year. Public submissions opened last month, as the group revealed its plans to occupy Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East and Richardson Park in Hamilton North opposite the Newcastle showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. The public exhibition period is understood to have been inundated with over 1000 responses, included hundreds of hard-copy filings that the group submitted in person, which will now be reviewed by council staff and submitted for councillor vote in an upcoming meeting. Rising Tide has framed the high volume of submissions as a win for the group, arguing that "Novocastrians support this family-friendly, community protest". "Regardless of the outcome at council, we do intend to host a protest in November," Organiser Alexa Stuart told the Newcastle Herald. "If council were to reject our application, it would certainly make it harder for the Newcastle community to participate like previous years, but in Australia we have a protected, democratic right to protest." "Having access to council land is important for enabling us to host a safe and highly organised event." The protest became a flash point of political debate after last year's blockaded ended in 170 arrests as activists defied Police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel. Of those arrested, 133 have pleaded not guilty to serious disruption or obstruction of a major facility. The first four defendants will face trial at Newcastle Local Court in October. A 30-hour blockade took place in 2023, but police arrested 109 people after they stayed in the water for longer in a move which attracted global media attention. Still, the group argued in court last year that protesters were not all seeking to get arrested to amplify their cause. Briohny Coglin, a lawyer who filed protest forms for Rising Tide, said its aim was to draw attention to governments continuing to approve new coal and gas projects, and organisers would instruct participants to follow directions and co-operate with police. Last month, Nationals MLC Wes Fang labelled Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge as "gullible" for entertaining the group's application again after he was "deceived last year". Mr Fang said the City of Newcastle should "stand firm against those lawbreakers" this year. In a brief statement last week, the City of Newcastle did not respond to questions over how many submissions were received, though Rising Tide has claimed the number was close to 1300 and may represent a record for the city, but confirmed that it was a "significant number". "These submissions have been received through our formal Have Your Say online portal, along with paper and email correspondence," a council spokesman said. "We are now in the process of collating and reviewing submissions, with the results to be included in a report to a future Council meeting." Ms Stuart said the group believed there was "overwhelming community support for this event" and, notwithstanding state opposition, urged the council to "listen to their constituents and act in the best interests of our community". "In their submissions, people frequently highlighted last year's event as fun and family-friendly, with free live music, a strong sense of community, and an atmosphere that was clean, respectful, inclusive, and safe," Ms Stuart said. "Our priority is to create a safe, family-friendly, and powerful space for thousands of people to come together and call for new jobs and support for the Hunter region, and a safe future for generations to come." "Every year climate impacts, like floods and storms, are getting worse and so more and more people are standing up to demand a fast and fair transition for coal workers, and a safe future for us all." Rising Tide has called for immediate cancellation of new fossil fuel projects, higher taxes on exports and an end to coal shipments from Newcastle by 2030. Rising Tide, the Newcastle-based protest group responsible for blockading the harbour in 2024, say regardless of whether the City of Newcastle approves its application to repeat the action in 2025, its protests will go ahead in November. The harbour blockade, which became the subject of a Supreme Court ruling and an 11th-hour victory for the protesters when the court overturned state efforts to lock them out of the Camp Shortland waterfront last year, is slated for a re-run later this year. Public submissions opened last month, as the group revealed its plans to occupy Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East and Richardson Park in Hamilton North opposite the Newcastle showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. The public exhibition period is understood to have been inundated with over 1000 responses, included hundreds of hard-copy filings that the group submitted in person, which will now be reviewed by council staff and submitted for councillor vote in an upcoming meeting. Rising Tide has framed the high volume of submissions as a win for the group, arguing that "Novocastrians support this family-friendly, community protest". "Regardless of the outcome at council, we do intend to host a protest in November," Organiser Alexa Stuart told the Newcastle Herald. "If council were to reject our application, it would certainly make it harder for the Newcastle community to participate like previous years, but in Australia we have a protected, democratic right to protest." "Having access to council land is important for enabling us to host a safe and highly organised event." The protest became a flash point of political debate after last year's blockaded ended in 170 arrests as activists defied Police orders on the last day and paddled into the shipping channel. Of those arrested, 133 have pleaded not guilty to serious disruption or obstruction of a major facility. The first four defendants will face trial at Newcastle Local Court in October. A 30-hour blockade took place in 2023, but police arrested 109 people after they stayed in the water for longer in a move which attracted global media attention. Still, the group argued in court last year that protesters were not all seeking to get arrested to amplify their cause. Briohny Coglin, a lawyer who filed protest forms for Rising Tide, said its aim was to draw attention to governments continuing to approve new coal and gas projects, and organisers would instruct participants to follow directions and co-operate with police. Last month, Nationals MLC Wes Fang labelled Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge as "gullible" for entertaining the group's application again after he was "deceived last year". Mr Fang said the City of Newcastle should "stand firm against those lawbreakers" this year. In a brief statement last week, the City of Newcastle did not respond to questions over how many submissions were received, though Rising Tide has claimed the number was close to 1300 and may represent a record for the city, but confirmed that it was a "significant number". "These submissions have been received through our formal Have Your Say online portal, along with paper and email correspondence," a council spokesman said. "We are now in the process of collating and reviewing submissions, with the results to be included in a report to a future Council meeting." Ms Stuart said the group believed there was "overwhelming community support for this event" and, notwithstanding state opposition, urged the council to "listen to their constituents and act in the best interests of our community". "In their submissions, people frequently highlighted last year's event as fun and family-friendly, with free live music, a strong sense of community, and an atmosphere that was clean, respectful, inclusive, and safe," Ms Stuart said. "Our priority is to create a safe, family-friendly, and powerful space for thousands of people to come together and call for new jobs and support for the Hunter region, and a safe future for generations to come." "Every year climate impacts, like floods and storms, are getting worse and so more and more people are standing up to demand a fast and fair transition for coal workers, and a safe future for us all." Rising Tide has called for immediate cancellation of new fossil fuel projects, higher taxes on exports and an end to coal shipments from Newcastle by 2030.
The Advertiser
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Community invited to have say on Rising Tide's plans for 2025 climate action
THE community is being invited to have their say on this year's Rising Tide event months out from the November start date. As well as occupying Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East, this year the group is applying to use Hamilton North's Richardson Park, opposite the showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was being made out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. "But we are still planning to hold a big event at Camp Shortland on the Saturday night with free live music, which was a big draw card last year," Mr Schofield said. An estimated 7,000-plus people participated and attended the 2024 event, involving more than 900 volunteers, Mr Schofield said. "Our hope is that it will be much bigger again this year," Mr Schofield said. "It grew substantially from 2023 to 2024, and I think that reflects public opinion both in Newcastle and around Australia about what it's gonna take to tackle the looming transition." The coal industry needs to be taxed more to fund that transition, and that was the group's key message, he said. City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it was important for the community to have their say on the event. "I know that there are strong views in the community about Rising Tide's People's Blockade and the associated protest activity, so we are seeking clear feedback during the public notice period," Cr Kerridge said. "Councillors will then consider the proposed event after the close of the public notice period. This could include possible camping and activation of Richardson Park, and consideration of a concert in Camp Shortland. "Council intends to consider this matter with several months' notice prior to the planned event to give organisers and the community a level of certainty." Rising Tide is an ambitiously active climate action organisation that is calling for an end to new coal and gas approvals and a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to fund the energy transition. Its plans for 2025 include setting up amusement rides, live performances and live music at both Camp Shortland and Richardson Park, as well as camping at the Hamilton North site. There have been 13 blockades in the Newcastle Harbour since 2006, with the intent to block the shipping channel given Newcastle Harbour's unique position as the world's largest coal port. The community can have their say by emailing their feedback to events@ from Monday, June 2, until the end of the month. City of Newcastle has formally declared a climate emergency and has committed to the Paris Agreement, and adopted a target of net zero emissions from its operations by 2030. THE community is being invited to have their say on this year's Rising Tide event months out from the November start date. As well as occupying Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East, this year the group is applying to use Hamilton North's Richardson Park, opposite the showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was being made out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. "But we are still planning to hold a big event at Camp Shortland on the Saturday night with free live music, which was a big draw card last year," Mr Schofield said. An estimated 7,000-plus people participated and attended the 2024 event, involving more than 900 volunteers, Mr Schofield said. "Our hope is that it will be much bigger again this year," Mr Schofield said. "It grew substantially from 2023 to 2024, and I think that reflects public opinion both in Newcastle and around Australia about what it's gonna take to tackle the looming transition." The coal industry needs to be taxed more to fund that transition, and that was the group's key message, he said. City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it was important for the community to have their say on the event. "I know that there are strong views in the community about Rising Tide's People's Blockade and the associated protest activity, so we are seeking clear feedback during the public notice period," Cr Kerridge said. "Councillors will then consider the proposed event after the close of the public notice period. This could include possible camping and activation of Richardson Park, and consideration of a concert in Camp Shortland. "Council intends to consider this matter with several months' notice prior to the planned event to give organisers and the community a level of certainty." Rising Tide is an ambitiously active climate action organisation that is calling for an end to new coal and gas approvals and a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to fund the energy transition. Its plans for 2025 include setting up amusement rides, live performances and live music at both Camp Shortland and Richardson Park, as well as camping at the Hamilton North site. There have been 13 blockades in the Newcastle Harbour since 2006, with the intent to block the shipping channel given Newcastle Harbour's unique position as the world's largest coal port. The community can have their say by emailing their feedback to events@ from Monday, June 2, until the end of the month. City of Newcastle has formally declared a climate emergency and has committed to the Paris Agreement, and adopted a target of net zero emissions from its operations by 2030. THE community is being invited to have their say on this year's Rising Tide event months out from the November start date. As well as occupying Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East, this year the group is applying to use Hamilton North's Richardson Park, opposite the showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was being made out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. "But we are still planning to hold a big event at Camp Shortland on the Saturday night with free live music, which was a big draw card last year," Mr Schofield said. An estimated 7,000-plus people participated and attended the 2024 event, involving more than 900 volunteers, Mr Schofield said. "Our hope is that it will be much bigger again this year," Mr Schofield said. "It grew substantially from 2023 to 2024, and I think that reflects public opinion both in Newcastle and around Australia about what it's gonna take to tackle the looming transition." The coal industry needs to be taxed more to fund that transition, and that was the group's key message, he said. City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it was important for the community to have their say on the event. "I know that there are strong views in the community about Rising Tide's People's Blockade and the associated protest activity, so we are seeking clear feedback during the public notice period," Cr Kerridge said. "Councillors will then consider the proposed event after the close of the public notice period. This could include possible camping and activation of Richardson Park, and consideration of a concert in Camp Shortland. "Council intends to consider this matter with several months' notice prior to the planned event to give organisers and the community a level of certainty." Rising Tide is an ambitiously active climate action organisation that is calling for an end to new coal and gas approvals and a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to fund the energy transition. Its plans for 2025 include setting up amusement rides, live performances and live music at both Camp Shortland and Richardson Park, as well as camping at the Hamilton North site. There have been 13 blockades in the Newcastle Harbour since 2006, with the intent to block the shipping channel given Newcastle Harbour's unique position as the world's largest coal port. The community can have their say by emailing their feedback to events@ from Monday, June 2, until the end of the month. City of Newcastle has formally declared a climate emergency and has committed to the Paris Agreement, and adopted a target of net zero emissions from its operations by 2030. THE community is being invited to have their say on this year's Rising Tide event months out from the November start date. As well as occupying Camp Shortland near Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle East, this year the group is applying to use Hamilton North's Richardson Park, opposite the showground. Riding Tide community organiser Zack Schofield said the change was being made out of respect for the residents of Newcastle East and to ensure people had a safe and stable place to stay. "But we are still planning to hold a big event at Camp Shortland on the Saturday night with free live music, which was a big draw card last year," Mr Schofield said. An estimated 7,000-plus people participated and attended the 2024 event, involving more than 900 volunteers, Mr Schofield said. "Our hope is that it will be much bigger again this year," Mr Schofield said. "It grew substantially from 2023 to 2024, and I think that reflects public opinion both in Newcastle and around Australia about what it's gonna take to tackle the looming transition." The coal industry needs to be taxed more to fund that transition, and that was the group's key message, he said. City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it was important for the community to have their say on the event. "I know that there are strong views in the community about Rising Tide's People's Blockade and the associated protest activity, so we are seeking clear feedback during the public notice period," Cr Kerridge said. "Councillors will then consider the proposed event after the close of the public notice period. This could include possible camping and activation of Richardson Park, and consideration of a concert in Camp Shortland. "Council intends to consider this matter with several months' notice prior to the planned event to give organisers and the community a level of certainty." Rising Tide is an ambitiously active climate action organisation that is calling for an end to new coal and gas approvals and a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to fund the energy transition. Its plans for 2025 include setting up amusement rides, live performances and live music at both Camp Shortland and Richardson Park, as well as camping at the Hamilton North site. There have been 13 blockades in the Newcastle Harbour since 2006, with the intent to block the shipping channel given Newcastle Harbour's unique position as the world's largest coal port. The community can have their say by emailing their feedback to events@ from Monday, June 2, until the end of the month. City of Newcastle has formally declared a climate emergency and has committed to the Paris Agreement, and adopted a target of net zero emissions from its operations by 2030.
