The activists protested against the approval of major coal projects like Anvil Hill and the expansion of Newcastle’s coal infrastructure, saying the New South Wales Government’s plans to double the Kooragang output capacity after the March election would be a “climate change disaster”.

Greenpeace climate campaigner Ben Pearson said Premier Morris Iemma is keeping his coal expansion plans “under wraps” and delaying them until after the election because he is aware of an increasing public awareness about climate change.

Two of the protesters will face Newcastle court next month charged with trespass and causing malicious damage.

Meanwhile, the Port Waratah Coal Services board voted at a meeting yesterday to reintroduce the quota system to address high vessel queues.

PWCS said only minor amendments have been made to the capacity balancing system that was ended by Hunter Valley coal producers late last year, ABC Online reported.

Approval will now be sought from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to have the system operating until the end of the year.