While Moree, Walgett and Coonamble shires want a moratorium imposed on the industry, Narrabri mayor Robyn Faber said the council didn’t have the authority or responsibility to introduce a moratorium, since the NSW government was responsible for exploration licences.

“We look after development applications, and coal seam gas doesn’t require a development application,” Cr Faber said.

She said Narrabri was the one council in the area that had had coal seam gas development in the area for the past 20 years.

Instead of trying to impose an impossible moratorium, the council would make a submission to the legislative council general-purpose standing committee no. 5, which was responsible for the coal seam gas industry inquiry, she said.

A draft submission addressing all terms of reference is being prepared by staff to go to a council committee on September 2.

Cr Faber said the main issues were water, access, compensation and the benefits and negatives in relation to development and social impact in the town.

She said all councillors had been invited to provide input into the submission, which is due on September 7.

A hearing for the inquiry is to be held at Narrabri in October or November.

“We need to make sure that we have a very thorough submission, so that we are invited to speak at the meeting,” Cr Faber said.

“This is the appropriate forum for the council, to make clear its position on all the issues related to coal seam gas development in our shire.”