Protester confused over dredge

Baffle Creek resident “Potts” travelled to Gladstone for the day in support of the Friends of the Earth protest flotilla at Gladstone Harbour.

Beth Young

When The Observer spoke to Friends of the Earth member Derec Davies at about 10am today, he thought he was chained to a dredge in Gladstone harbour.

"I'm here in the good company of some of Gladstone's police force - they're trying to relieve me of my post," he laughed.

He added that there were no hard feelings and the police were simply doing their job.

Turns out, Mr Davies had mistaken a split-loader barge for a dredge.

A Gladstone Ports Corporation spokesperson said the protester was not on one of the dredges operating in the harbour.

A heavy-duty bicycle lock had been used to secure Mr Davies to the barge, which was sitting alongside a dredge in the western part of the harbour towards the Narrows.

Water police sergeant Jeff Barnett said it took about 45 minutes to free the protester.

"I've just finished dropping him off at the Gladstone Watch House," Sergeant Barnett said.

"Obviously he's unlawfully entered a workplace and he'll be up for several offences."

While secured to the barge, Mr Davies explained his cause over the phone to The Observer.

"It's about driving continued media coverage after the Four Corners episode the other night.

"We're not anti-industry - we're just hoping for no more floating dugongs."

Brisbane-based Mr Davies called himself a "blow-in", but said what was happening in Gladstone should be of concern to all Australians.

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Drew Hutton said the organisation was calling for a halt to the dredging.

"We can't sacrifice the harbour," he said.