Rising Tide's Paddle for the Plant flotilla is set to see hundreds of people in kayaks take to the water tomorrow. The court heard up to 785 people on kayaks and other watercraft would enter Newcastle Harbour in the morning to unfurl a 20-metre-long series of connected floating letters reading "Coal Exports Equals Climate Chaos". They also plan to form a continuous line spanning the harbour for about 30 to 40 minutes, blocking the shipping channel, before returning to shore.
Without a Form 1, a notice of intention to hold a public assembly that must be submitted to the police commissioner in NSW, protesters risk being charged by police for offences including obstructing people, vehicles or vessels. The NSW Police Commissioner had opposed the application and asked the Supreme Court to prohibit the event due to safety concerns for those attending and other users of the harbour.
Police argued their resources have been stretched on the water and land during previous anti-coal events. On Wednesday, barrister David Hume SC, who acted for NSW Police, told the court transport officials and police had predicted dire consequences. "Everyone has looked at this [event] saying it poses an unacceptable risk," Hume said. "This is open water with hundreds of people and the risk of collision, capsize and drowning is catastrophic." Assistant Police Commissioner David Waddell echoed those concerns, citing an incident last year where protesters were washed hundreds of metres down the harbour. "I have not seen any Rising Tide event run safely yet," he said.
Rising Tide's barrister Michael Green told the court the event would have a kayak safety team, swimming in the channel would be banned, and life jackets would be mandatory. He said participants would also be briefed on hand signals to raise the alarm if they got into trouble. Rising Tide's Anne Hodgson told the court it would be a family-friendly event and ruled out the prospect of civil disobedience: "We have been informing people there will be no civil disobedience." Hodgson said it was hoped global media would cover the event, noting the COP31 meetings are on.
On the eve of the court action, Newcastle City councillors voted to ban Rising Tide from protesting on community land "now and into the future", sparking fears among activists about their right to peacefully protest. Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris used his casting vote to pass a motion opposing the use of community land for the purpose of Rising Tide's events and protests. "The constant request for them [Rising Tide activists] to remain within the boundaries has been broken, and it's been a constant breaking of promises," Morris said. "Sadly, they keep pushing the boundaries beyond the realms of safety and something just needed to be done."