Police have charged a man and a woman with offences related to obstructing rail lines after officers were called to two protests in the Hunter Tuesday.
Police were initially called to the rail lines at Ash Island around 5.45am after reports a woman had scaled and suspended herself from a high-tension electricity pylon by a rope that was secured over the rail line as part of an unauthorised protest.
Newcastle Police, with the assistance of officers from the Rescue Unit, helped in lowering the 20 year-old from Brisbane to the ground. She was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where she was charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.
A short time later, officers were called back to the coal line at Aryshire Crescent at Sandgate with reports a car had been placed on the tracks.
On arrival, officers from Newcastle and the Police Rescue Unit spoke with a 24-year-old man inside the vehicle who refused to leave as directed, a spokesperson for NSW Police said.
He was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse and cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock.
Both the man and woman have been ordered to appear at Newcastle Local Court on December 2.
