Environmental groups say Aboriginal rock art at a site earmarked for a controversial coal mine, has been proven to be authentic.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 44 seconds 4 m 44 s Environmental groups say Aboriginal rock art at a site earmarked for a controversial coal mine, has been proven to be authentic. ( Alex Blucher ) Download 2.2 MB

A report commissioned by mining company Coalpac, questioned the age of the art, saying it's probably a replica of a traditional hand stencil, dating back just a few years.

Environmentalists have been battling the project to reopen two open cut coal mines, fearing it will damage a region called the Gardens of Stones near the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Lithgow Environment Group's president Dr Richard Stiles, says the finding poses questions about the original archaeological investigation at the unique Pagoda landscape in the Ben Bullen State Forest. Chert flake in-situ central to south end of the shelter in the Ben Bullen State Forest. ( Michael Jackson )

"There was a question of the authenticity of a white hand stencil, they found that hand stencil to be authentic, they found a number of other hand stencils in the cave, in the floor of the cave they found chert stone tools, which suggested previous Aboriginal habitation,

"I think it leads to questions about the due diligence of Coalpac's consultant's report and it really makes you question how an archaeological consultant could say those things, when there is so much evidence in this cave that there's been Aboriginal occupation and artwork in it," Dr Stiles says.

An Engineering agency Aecom Australia's principal archaeologist, in a report commissioned by Coalpac, has inspected the site in question twice.

The first time two archaeologists and three representatives from local Aboriginal groups inspected the site in December 2010 and no hand stencil or stone tools were found or recorded.

The second time, in response to the Lithgow Environment Groups' submission to the current DA to extend and reopen the mines, one white hand stencil was found and it was reported to be 'questionable' and potentially a replica of a traditional Aboriginal hand stencil.

Coalpac maintains that the site in question won't be affected by mining operations.

The hand stencil in the Ben Bullen State Forest, which has been found to be authentic. ( Michael Jackson )

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society commissioned archaeologist Michael Jackson of Jackson Ward Archaeology, who's worked in the Blue Mountains region for decades, he disputes that the rock art is fake.

He also says that the hand stencils aside, the stone tools that he found and recorded, prove beyond a doubt that the shelter is an Aboriginal occupation site.

"I noticed the hand stencils a few seconds after going into the shelter.

"From my point of view, I find that the rock art is clearly not three and a half years old.

"I've seen rock art that's been done in the last five years and it's much brighter, there's evidence usually in the shelter of preparation of pigments and all sorts of things," Mr Jackson says.

He also says that his site recordings have been independently verified by the Office of Environment and Heritage, which is the state government authority on Aboriginal heritage determinations.

Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporations' Auntie Helen Riley is a traditional custodian and elected elder for the region.

She's expressed concern that the traditional custodians weren't involved in the first on-site Aboriginal heritage assessment that Aecom Australia carried out for Coalpac in December 2010.

"The main concern is that they've (Coalpac) brought a north-eastern Wiradjuri person in to check it, she's a Wiradjuri person but it's not her area.

"You've got to have people that live in the area, and know the area, you can't just bring other people in even if they are Wiradjuri.

"You've got to have traditional custodians that live in the area," she says.

Energy Australia has confirmed that it would buy Coalpac, which is in administration, if the Invincible Colliery and Cullen Valley Mine extensions are approved.

The plan is for the mothballed open cut mines to be reopened and extended to supply Energy Australia's Mount Piper Power Station.

The Department of Planning and Environment is currently assessing a DA which would see 315 hectares of open cut mining in the Ben Bullen State Forest next to the township of Cullen Bullen.

The Planning Assessment Commission knocked back a larger 700 hectare project late 2013 because it found the nature and scale of the environmental impacts were unacceptable.

Coalpac CEO Ian Follington says the company is continuing to liaise and communicate with the Office of Environment and Heritage and once their report comes out will be duly advised.

An Office of Environment and Heritage spokesperson says that the OEH is finalising a report on the site allegedly containing Aboriginal Rock Art in Ben Bullen State Forest and until this report is finalised are unable to comment on its findings.