The Plains Clan of the Wonnarua people were joined by members of the Hunter community to fight against Ashton Coal’s realignment of Bowman’s Creek, approval for which was given on Christmas Eve last year.

The Department of Environment and Heritage is now assessing an application for a Consent to Destroy from Ashton Coal.

Scott Franks, one of the many Wonnarua people fighting against the consent, said he was told by the OEH that a decision would not be made until all the documents were assessed.

Mr Franks said the group met with the Newcastle OEH on Wednesday.

They wanted the department to protect Aboriginal heritage as well as the total environment of the Hunter Valley.

He said after the protest yesterday that the group’s concerns had gathered momentum with other groups offering support.

“It was a very successful protest and we have had an approach by a greens minister who we will meet with as soon as possible,” Mr Franks said.

The group wants a commission to investigate dest-ruction of Aboriginal heritage in the Hunter Valley because of to coal mining.