Real estate agents have joined a revolt against a mining firm's plans to drill for coal beneath Sutton Forest, with some refusing to help it set up an office in the district.
A consortium led by Korean steel giant POSCO and Australian company Cockatoo Coal wants to drill near some of the most valuable properties in the district.
The consortium bought the exploration rights from Anglo American in a $557 million sale finalised on Christmas Eve.
Cockatoo has been allocated a 30 per cent stake in the lease in return for shares. POSCO would own most of the mine, but Cockatoo would perform the work.
The company will soon be approaching landowners about exploratory drilling on their land.
But several real estate agents are backing the growing campaign against the mining, refusing to co-operate as it looks for an office.
The Bowral office of realtor Angus Campbell-Jones, who has been an agent there for 20 years, was recently approached by Cockatoo for office space in Moss Vale.
Mr Campbell-Jones said he would not help them because he was concerned the mining would cause environmental damage.
"We told them we didn't want to be tied up in bringing this into the district," he said.
"I don't think a great number of people in the Highlands realise what's going to happen to the Highlands if they stay quiet.
"We've got good underground water aquifers that are part of the Sydney catchment. I don't think any mining company can guarantee they're not going to damage them," he said.
Karina O'Neil, a property consultant at Margaret McCauley Real Estate at Bowral, said the mine would have a "devastating" effect on the picturesque region.
"This is beautiful rich country with a really strong heritage," Ms O'Neil said.
"I think it would have a huge effect on the Highlands.
"You'd be [affecting] a lot of prime agricultural land as well as the tourism industry ... and the emerging wine industry we have down here.
"I just can't really see any advantage in it for this area or for the people of this area."
Cockatoo would only say it is "currently considering options for office space within the region".
The most famous landowners on Sutton Forest's Golden Vale Rd - where the mine would be - are actress Nicole Kidman and her country rocker husband Keith Urban, who own the $6.5 million property Bunya Hill.
It is not known whether they are opposed to the mine proposal.
Representatives from at least six real estate agents were at a meeting last month with the Southern Highlands Coal Action Group.
The Mercury is aware of other estate agents who are opposed to the mine but have not been prepared to make their concerns public.
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