A government department has recommended knocking back a proposal for a coal mine which may threaten the World Heritage-listed Ben Bullen State Forest.

Mining firm Coalpac has applied to streamline and expand its mines at Cullen Bullen, outside Lithgow, right on the edge of the beautiful Gardens of Stone. The New South Wales Department of Planning says the massive open-cut coal mine would be too much of a risk to the nearby ecological resources.

Coalpac want to develop nearly 700 hectares of open cut mining to dig up 86 million tonnes of coal from the western edge of the Ben Bullen State Forest. An early report from the Department of Planning says the proposal is unacceptable. While it may be possible to mitigate for issues of air quality, noise, blasting and water resources, the open cut nature of the project would be disastrous for the significant rock formations and biodiversity of the area.

It is the second recommendation for refusal of the project. Pepe Clarke from the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales says she does not believe it can go ahead, but there is still another step.

“The Planning Assessment Commission will consider the proposal and make a final determination on whether it should go ahead or not,” she said

“Given the PAC's previous finding and the recommendation from the department, it seems very likely at this stage that the mine will be refused.”

“This is an enormous relief for local residents who were concerned about the mine and also for conservationists.”

The Department of Planning has indicated that a smaller proposal from Colapac may be acceptable.