Two men, who were among more than 100 people charged for allegedly staying in Newcastle Harbour beyond Rising Tide's climate protest permit deadline on Sunday, have been convicted and fined.
John Max Wurcker, 65, and Isaac Leonard, 23, each pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court on Monday afternoon to one count of "operate vessel so as to interfere with others' use of waters".
Despite the charge being a fine-only offence, the pair were the only two out of 109 people arrested following the 30-hour Port of Newcastle climate blockade who were not immediately released on bail.
The Herald understands both men were granted bail but refused to sign the form which would allow their conditional release from police custody.
The court heard on Monday that Mr Leonard, a man who has a complete loss of sight, felt he was unable to sign the bail form because a condition of his release would have been that he not associate with other members of the climate protest group.
Defence solicitor James Wallace said Mr Leonard particularly relied on his connections in the community due to his vision loss and the bail conditions would have stopped him from being in the company of his support worker - who was also an environmental activist.
Mr Wurcker, a grandfather who represented himself from the dock, told the court he had dedicated his life to social justice and had spent years as the CEO of a major organisation that provided aid to developing nations.
He said he believed "non-violent civil disobedience" had been the catalyst for change throughout history.
"We are now towards the end game of a climate catastrophe," he said.
Magistate Janine Lacy convicted and fined both men - Mr Leonard $600 and Mr Wurcker $650.
The remainder of those charged on Sunday night are not in custody and will face Newcastle Local Court on January 11.
Officers began arresting people just after 4pm on Sunday, in what was a dramatic end to an otherwise untroubled 30-hours of environmental protest.
"Police will allege in court that a number of protesters purposely entered the harbour channel after this time despite appropriate warnings and directions by police," a NSW Police statement said on Monday morning.
Police said five juveniles were expected to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, which diverts minors from the criminal justice system.
A statement from protest organiser Rising Tide on Monday morning said the age range of those arrested was 15 to 97 years old.
