Wingecarribee Council election candidates will be grilled about their views on mining in the southern highlands at a public forum this evening (tue).

The Southern Highlands Coal Action group has organised the event to be held in the Bowral Memorial Hall starting at 6pm.

Candidates contesting the September 8 election have been invited to address the forum and questions will be taken from the floor.

The group will also be updating the meeting on their local activities including the status of exploration licences in the area and the action against Boral's expansion of the Medway colliery in the Land and Environment Court