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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Coalfields for Climate Action - which has held a number of recent protests in Cessnock - was planted outside the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Resources and Geoscience Division office in Maitland on Friday.
The protest was held in response to the NSW Government's Strategic Statement on Coal Exploration and Mining, which has earmarked about 178 square kilometres between Wollombi and Broke as potential release area for coal exploration.
Greens spokesperson for Cessnock, Janet Murray, said people want to know why the area neighbouring Wollombi (known as Area 13 on the map) has been "singled out" for potential coal exploration, why other areas of NSW have been marked as "no proactive release".
"We want to see existing land uses respected and 'area 13' reclassified as 'coal mining prohibited' to put this to bed once and for all," Ms Murray said.
"We know how long and protracted these battles become where communities try to defend themselves against inappropriate developments.
"Look at the Gloucester community who were vindicated when consent was finally refused for the Rocky Hill mine near their town.
"Look at what the Narrabri community is currently going through with the Santos gas proposal.
"Proposals such as these create uncertainty for the community, often over a long period of time. People don't know whether to buy property in the area, those with businesses don't know whether to invest more, others decide to go elsewhere to open a business.
"This is not what we want to see for the Wollombi Valley."
Ms Murray said Coalfields for Climate Action is a loose affiliation of local people and environmental groups campaigning for climate action, rather than "business as usual" in the Hunter Valley.
The group usually protests in front of the Cessnock offices of federal MP Joel Fitzgibbon or state member Clayton Barr, with its next protest to be held at Mr Barr's office on Friday.
Last week's protest was the group's first in Maitland, and but they have already promised to return.
Coalfields for Climate Action and Maitland Greens member Jan Davis said the state government's strategic statement was the catalyst for the group getting together on Friday.
"We had the worst fires we've ever had. We are in climate chaos. More coal is not what we need," Ms Davis said.
"We will be back every fortnight but if we can get more people then we will be there every week.
"We need to send this message to our politicians. We don't want to keep going in climate chaos."
While the mining industry provides a lot of jobs throughout the 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.
