The indigenous nation has accused the miner of disrespect for their culture and heritage, although Whitehaven denies the accusation and says it’s willing to take part in more talks about their concerns.

More than 50 people formed a picket line yesterday until 10am at Whitehaven’s office and adjacent park in Boggabri and said they would return today with more supporters to continue the protest.

Protester and Gomeroi traditional owner Stephen Talbot said Whitehaven had not sat down with them to discuss issues of culture and heritage and concerns over the site.

Mr Talbot said Whitehaven workers told two elders on Friday that work would not be starting and on the same day rang the Red Chief Land Council to say work would begin Tuesday.

“I think it shows a total disrespect for the Aboriginal community,” Mr Talbot said.

“To me, that’s a spit in the face to our elders. They didn’t seek out elders in relation to the cultural and heritage values. It’s about time the Gomeroi people stood up to these miners.”

Mr Talbot said there had been about 20 of them on site at the mine working as Aboriginal site officers doing the salvage work.

“They need to seek out elders that know stories about Maules Creek, not only Aboriginal people, but farmers who have had farms through the generations and heard the stories,” he said.

“It is with a great deal of stress and concern that the Gomeroi traditional people, local Aboriginal Land Council community and Aboriginal community members have had to walk off the cultural heritage salvage program at the Whitehaven Maules Creek Mine. 

“The Maules Creek mine will clear more than 4000 acres of culturally significant forest, artefacts and cultural values that we have not even been allowed to assess properly yet. We have only been able to walk 

0.05 per cent of the mine site.“

A Whitehaven spokesman said the company had held discussions and carried out formal consultation with a number of local Aboriginal representative groups in relation to the Maules Creek project since 2010 and that continues today.

“A detailed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment was included in the project’s EA 

(environmental assessment) as part of the planning process and consultation has continued throughout the project,” they said.

“Following consultation with the Aboriginal representative groups, OEH (Office of Environment and Heritage), Namoi CMA and DPI, our Aboriginal Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management Plan was lodged with the state government and has been approved – the plan is available on our website. The management plan details with the consultation process to date and the planned approach to consultation moving forward as well as the management of salvage works.”

The spokesman said they were committed to ongoing consultation and would discuss the concerns raised by the protesters, with those who had raised them.

“Whitehaven has requested a meeting with the various Aboriginal groups as soon as practical in order to discuss any concerns they may have,” they said.

“Whitehaven awaits a positive response from the representative of the groups. We wish to discuss the concerns raised today on a direct basis with those who have raised them in order for the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage items at the site to continue on an agreed basis. 

“Whitehaven takes the views and concerns of all representative Aboriginal groups extremely seriously and we recognise the significance of cultural heritage to them.”

Mr Talbot said he cared about his cultural heritage and claimed that some Aboriginal people sold themselves out by signing papers so mining companies could get approval.

He said they had lodged paperwork with the court and put a stop- work order in as well as letters to the NSW Planning Minister, Premier Barry O’Farrell, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Department of Planning.

“This is only the calm before the storm,” Mr Talbot said.

“We need to have control of our own cultural heritage and it’s about time we put all these mines and gas companies that we are not going to sit back and have the wool pulled over our eyes. We’re not going away. The Gomeroi tribe was one of the most fierce tribes. They’ll see how fierce we are again, especially when it involves culture and heritage.”