Protesters' claim denied

Solid Energy has rejected a claim that protesters have forced a halt to its operations by occupying a safety zone near a proposed West Coast coalmine.

Members of the Save Happy Valley Coalition have set up camp in an area near Mt Augustus, where the state-owned mining company is using dynamite to clear land that was the habitat of a rare giant snail for mining.

Spokeswoman Frances Mountier said the protesters felt they had no choice but to take the direct action after the Government and courts cleared the way for the destruction of the snail's habitat.