PORT Botany has been disrupted by protesters for the third day in a row. This morning, a protester suspended himself above the ARTC-operated container rail line.
A statement from NSW Police said emergency services were called to the railway corridor near Banksia Street in Pagewood at 0730, where someone had suspended themselves from a pole.
“A 32-year-old man has been arrested by officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command and taken to Mascot Police Station where charges are anticipated,” the statement said.
The man was representing climate activist group Blockade Australia, the same group responsible for disrupting port traffic on Tuesday and blocking access to Hutchinson container terminal yesterday.
A NSW Ports spokesperson told DCN it had worked closely with NSW Police and other response agencies to minimise the impact of this week’s protests, which have been limited to areas leading to and from the port.
“There was no disruption to port operations as a result of this morning’s protest on the freight rail line into Port Botany,” the spokesperson said.
“The port maritime security zone remained secure at all times.
“We would like to thank NSW Police for their swift and safe response in dealing with the protesters’ attempts to disrupt port access.”
A spokesperson from Patrick Terminals told DCN the rail corridor was blocked for less than an hour, and the protest did not impact the terminal’s operations.
“The quick response by the police and emergency services again saw the protester removed within an hour,” the spokesperson said.
“There were no scheduled arrivals or departures during this period of time for the Patrick Terminal and therefore no impact to services.”
This morning’s incident follows another demonstration in Port Botany on Wednesday night, in which two hired trucks parked on Penrhyn Road blocked access to Patrick Terminals from both directions.
“One of the protestors – a 71-year-old woman – was sitting in one of the trucks with a bike lock secured to herself and the steering wheel,” a statement from NSW Police said.
“The second protestor – a 57-year-old woman – was sitting on top of the second truck.”
The women were arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station, where both were charged for preventing the passage of vehicles and disobeying authorities.
“Penrhyn Road is a busy intersection used by trucking companies to deliver and collect containers at the container terminal on a 24-hour basis,” the Patrick Termianls spokesperson told DCN.
“The quick response by the police and emergency services saw the protesters removed within 40 minutes. Truck arrivals and departures resumed immediately.”
