Police charge 19 after Lake Cowal gold mine protest
Police have charged 19 people following a protest at a central-western NSW gold mining site, including a man who attempted to disrupt the activists' campsite.
Eighteen people entered the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal at about 1.30pm (AEST) on Sunday, invading the site office and chaining themselves to machinery.
Protesters say the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying the land of the traditional owners, the Wiradjuri people.
Police said the 18 were arrested and charged with entering enclosed lands.
They have been granted conditional bail and will appear in West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.
In a separate incident, a 32-year-old man from Western Australia allegedly drove into the protesters' campsite and damaged their cars and tents.
He was arrested and charged with malicious damage, failing to undergo a breath analysis, stalking/intimidation, carrying a knife in a public place and driving offences.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Griffith Local Court.
Traditional owner Neville "Chappy" Williams said Barrick had done a secret deal with a group of Wiradjuri people who were not entitled to make such an agreement.
"The company did a deal with five unauthorised Wiradjuri, who signed away the ancient inheritance of over 30,000 people of the Wiradjuri Nation," Mr Williams said.
"After signing the secret agreement with Barrick they discontinued their Native Title Claim over the area."
However, another claim by several thousand members of the Wiradjuri was still active in the Federal Court and proceeding towards determination, he said.
The Wiradjuri People were also being denied the right of spiritual and religious freedom under Section 116 of the Australian Constitution, Mr Williams said.
"Barrick is desecrating our sacred site and Dreaming Place and denying us access to our traditional lands. The company has moved or destroyed more than 10,000 artefacts including marked trees, damaging the integrity of the area forever."
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