The two climbed the 30m high coal dump and dropped a banner before coming down and being arrested.

A 22-year-old Taringa man and a 29-year-old Sunny Bank Hills man were charged with trespass and are due to appear in the Oakey Magistrates Court on November 9.

Friends of the Earth said the coal dump was just 1.5km from the Darling Downs town of Jondaryan and coal dust was contaminating residents’ air and water.

The protest was part of the Lock the Gate Alliance's National Week of Action and was aimed at preventing New Hope Coal from expanding the Acland across farm land near the towns of Jondaryan and Oakey, according to spokesman Drew Hutton.

The dump was supposed to be temporary but was now being continually used, Hutton said.

“Our direct action will continue until the Queensland government introduces adequate protection for good farm land, underground water, important environmental areas and the health of local communities,” he said.

New Hope’s development portfolio includes the Acland coal project and projects acquired as part of its takeover of Northern Energy Corp.