Ian and Robyn Moore’s neighbours joined protesters against coal mining and coal seam gas exploration as legal representatives entered the court this morning.

The Moore family has denied NuCoal access to drill three boreholes on his property at Apple Tree Flat for its proposed Doyle’s Creek mine.

Mr Moore said he opposed the operations because of the potential damage it could cause to underground water supplies and because he is legally blind and relies on a visual memory of his property to farm, which the drilling operations and bore holes could hinder.

Protesters’ loud chants could be heard at times during proceedings.

Counsel representing the mine Sandra Duggan SC at one point asked Justice Peter Biscoe if the proceedings could stop while the ‘‘rabble’’ outside made noises but he asked her to continue.

The court heard this morning that the mining company would assist Mr Moore in working on the farm while the drilling took place.

Ms Duggan also told the court of a new compensation offer. She said her client had offered the Moores $25,000 in total compensation for the three holes plus other negotiated conditions if the family allowed access to their property before the hearing ended tomorrow.

Judge Biscoe raised the prospect of a settlement between the parties in the dispute and Mr Moore’s legal representative Peter Long said he would seek instructions from his client.

Water experts for the coal company and the Moores went to view the sites of the proposed bores this afternoon.

The experts will give their evidence later today.

Mr Long told the court the mining company had not produced adequate scientific evidence of the impact of the bore holes and raised concerns about the location of one of the holes which appeared to be on a neighbouring property.

A NuCoal representative told the Newcastle Herald outside the court 40 bore holes had been drilled on the licence area and filled in without incident or complaints.

He said there were 31 landowners on the company’s exploration licence and it had access agreements with 26.

Three landowners are denying access to the company including Mr Moore, he said.

Another two were not relevant to the exploration, he said.

NuCoal esimates the exploration licence area contains 504 million tonnes of coal.

The exploration licence expires in 2012.

The hearing continues.