Police are conducting multiple raids at Hamilton East on Friday afternoon in relation to ongoing coal protests in the Hunter region.
Strike Force Tuohy police are on scene at and around the Hunter Community Environment Centre on Parry Street where they have seized banners and corflutes.
Hunter Community Environment Centre committee member Georgina Wood said she was surprised at the police response and that the centre was not involved in the protests.
"It does seem like an overreaction," she said.
It comes after weeks of anti-coal protest action by Blockade Australia.
Newcastle City Police formed Strike Force Tuohy to prevent and disrupt the illegal protests.
Earlier on Friday, Shadow Minister for Climate Change Pat Conroy condemned the protest action calling it "eco terrorism".
"This is a rolling blockade to distort and destroy a perfectly legal activity: coal mining that delivers billions of dollars of revenue and income to workers and families in our region," he said.
"This is not the way to campaign on climate action because you're dividing our community. Other groups that are equally passionate about climate action are doing it the right way.
"They're talking to our local community. They're bringing the community with them and persuading them about the need for action on climate. What this does is it divides our community."
