An Adani contractor has pledged not to work with the company on its Carmichael mine project, agreeing to the demands of protesters who had targeted worksites this week.

The Eastern Tree Services group – an integrated contractor based in Melbourne – had been clearing trees near the Adani Abbot Point port to manage a fire break.

The group Frontline Action on Coal launched protests at ETS worksites on Monday morning after a tip – denied by both ETS and Adani – that the contractor had verbally agreed to clear vegetation for Adani’s proposed rail spur line.

The chief executive of ETS, Paul Tymensen, told Guardian Australia on Monday, as the first protest was unfolding, that the company decided to accept work in line with its values, which include making communities safer. He said those values – not the actions of protesters – would determine whether they accepted future work from Adani.

On Thursday morning, ETS and the anti-coal group Galilee Blockade released apparently coordinated statements confirming the company would not participate in the Carmichael project.

“Following events of the past week ETS can confirm we will not undertake work for Adani relating to the proposed Carmichael mine, including the mine site, water facilities, rail corridor or expansion of the port,” the company said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Galilee Blockade thanked the company for upholding their value to “make communities safer” and not take on contracts “if potential client work compromises this”.

“ETS asserted they were not contracted to do further work for Adani but until today refused to rule out working on Adani’s Carmichael mine.”

Activists have consistently targeted contractors and claim responsibility for the decision by Downer EDI to end a contract to build the mine in 2017.

The political climate around Adani will likely become more heated in the coming months, as the Indian conglomerate attempts to push ahead with construction, the Queensland government assesses critical management plans and traditional owners launch another court challenge – all amid a federal election campaign.

Protesters are expected to ramp up actions during that time.

“Adani must be the most toxic company in Australia’s corporate history,” Galilee Blockade spokesman Ben Pennings said. “Eastern Tree Service learnt very quickly how committed people are to protecting the reef, scarce water and a liveable climate.

“Banks, insurers and major contractors have all walked away from Adani. Now smaller contractors are beginning to understand that Australians will punish companies that threaten their future.”

Adani, which usually ignores the actions of anti-coal groups, criticised the protesters in a statement on Monday.

“Once again we are seeing activist and anti-coal groups peddle misinformation in an attempt to create hysteria based on myths,” the statement said. “Had the group checked its facts, it would have found that the business which it caused disruption to ... is not a contractor for the Carmichael project.

“We recognise there are varied opinions about the Carmichael project but when groups such as this disrupt private businesses, impacting employees and their families based on incorrect information, they should be held accountable.

“The great thing about living in a democracy is that we can hold and express our different views. All we ask is that people’s opinions are based on facts and that they don’t put lives at risk through irresponsible, illegal and unsafe protest behaviour.”