An Australian Associated Press report released within hours of initial reports about the protest said the environmental activists - who chained themselves to the power plant's conveyor system and painted "Coal Kills" on the station's roof - were pleased with the attention they had attracted.

The report said police - including members of the public order and riot squad - were called to the station at about 6am and by 10.45am all seven men and eight women had been arrested.

It is expected they will be charged with trespass and malicious damage offences.