The interest is disclosed in a report the company lodged with the NSW Department of Planning last month as part of its proposal for a new open-cut pit to the south of its existing operations and Camberwell village.

"[Ashton Coal] intends to negotiate with the Minister for Lands for the purchase of the land or to seek an agreement to allow mining in accordance with any mining lease granted," it said.

In April, Ashton was granted an access and grazing licence for land near its existing operations after the government revoked the two-part, 90-hectare village common, in place for 120 years.

The company said it needed access to the common for work on its proposal, saying it would be a "responsible tenant" and engage with the community.

A spokesman for Planning and Lands minister Tony Kelly said there had been no negotiations yet relating to the sale, but said the government would, provided Ashton Coal received appropriate approval for the mine.

Brian Flannery, general manager of Ashton-operator Felix Resources, said the company welcomed a recently-released government study of mining near Camberwell, and looked "forward to the assessment of the south-east open cut proposal."

A spokesman for Mr Flannery did not respond to earlier questions about the common.