Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries told The Leader the event would give landholders the chance to speak to the minister about their issues. The newly formed community consultative group will also attend the meeting. The group was formed as one of the recommendations from a large coal seam gas meeting held in Moree on June 28.

“We’ve got some issues, particularly about protocols for gas companies when it comes to land access,” Mr Humphries said.

“The difficulties landholders have is the exploratory licence stage. I think there’s more misinformation out there than correct information.”

Mr Hartcher last week made an announcement to introduce new public consultation guidelines to increase transparency and accountability of mining companies

“He’s committed to a consultation process for exploratory licences and we want him to outline in detail what that will mean,” Mr Humphries said.

“The issue in our area is maintaining the integrity of prime agricultural land but at the same time we want to know what’s there.”

Mr Humphries said companies had been drilling for oil, coal and gas for the past 100 years in the Moree and Narrabri shires.

He wanted to make it clear that there is no mining or commercial extraction proposed for the Moree area.

“An exploratory licence is just that - it’s one well in the area and it doesn’t equate to a commercial process,” he said.

“But our aim is to make sure it’s right and there’s a very clear and transparent system that they’re working under.”