EVERYONE at Oaklands knows about the millions of tonnes of coal lying below the plains but there's scepticism about whether it will again be mined.
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Since Coalworks began fresh exploration work in 2007, a few workers have brought in a few dollars to spend while they were drilling, but that's only occasionally.
The company continues to give its shareholders encouraging reports about the possibilities for Oaklands.
Locals don't want to criticise the company but, as one said, "we've heard it all before".
They recall how CRA and Mitsubishi talked up their plans for a coalmine and power station in the 1980s but the talk fizzled out.
History records that black "Coorabin coal" was discovered by J.T. Lane in 1915 and mined sporadically until 1959.
It's true that the NSW government is keen to expand coalmining in the state.
While Coalworks continues to work on its project, the other leases, now controlled by Rio Tinto, just sit.
The Greens oppose any mining, fearing it would pollute the environment.
