Coal trains blocked by Protesters at Collinsville

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UPDATE Wed 28 July 2010 - Activists end Collinsville rail line blockade

Original Story Tue 27 July 2010

At 5pm this afternoon, protesters were continuing to block the Collinsville - Newlands railway line which feeds Abbot Point Port. At the time, the protest had been going for 6 hours, and the feeling amongst the protesters is that they are willing to stay as long as it takes . . . . (*click images to enlarge - you are free to use them without modification, but please give credit to whitsundaysonline.net).

The residents of Collinsville (Whitsundays Regional Council) want firm assurances that the railway line will be diverted around Collinsville as part of the lines sale in the Queensland Government Asset Sale.

The railway line going through Collinsville is purely for coal - from the mines in Scotttvile, Newlands and in between. The coal travels on the line to Abbot Point Port - also to be sold off by the Bligh Government.

The residents argue that currently the trains take up to 13 minutes to clear the railway crossing which divides the East and West (main)  parts of Collinsville.

This is becoming a serious issue not only with the towns people, the mines, and the rural folk east of the line, but it has also become an issue with the emergency services.

So why protest now? Well, the protesters want the line diverted around Collinsville before the "Northern Missing Link" is completed, which will see the amount of train movements through Collinsville increase ten fold, or more.

The amount of train movements means the crossing at Collinsville will probably be closed to traffic more than it is open.

There will also be the constant train engine noise plus rumbles, scrapes, pings and clatter that goes with 2km long trains, not just to Abbot Point, but also back again.

The protesters have set up two camps - on the North Eastern side of the crossing, and the main camp on the South Western side. The Police have setup camp about 100m north of the main protester's camp, on the west (town) side of the railway line.

The protesters have halted a full northbound train about 50m south of the crossing. An empty southbound coal train is stationary about 20km north of Collinsville.
The protesters are dug in for an expected long haul. They are adamant they will not be moving until they get assurances from Premier Bligh.

While it was damp and a bit miserable, the spirits of the Collinsville locals were extremely high - the main camp appeared to have a BBQ style of atmosphere . . . friendly but with a purpose.

I would say there was one police officer for every 1 and a half protesters. Everyone appeared to be we supplied and catered, and toilet facilities.

Collinsville is on the western fringe of the Whitsundays Regional Council. 100km 'as the crow flies' west of Airlie Beach, but around a two hour drive via Bowen.

It is a small rural village that has transformed into a mining town in the last decade, serving the Scottville & Newlands mines, but also Collinsville Power Station and Burdekin Dam.