Hopes of an unofficial moratorium on coal-seam gas (CSG) exploration licences in NSW since the change of government in March have failed to materialise and it’s business as usual for the mining sector.

Since the Liberal-National coalition swept into power in March, the licensing authority, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), has issued two new exploration licences.

So far the Tweed and Byron Shires have been spared. Macquarie Energy’s petroleum exploration licence (PEL) 134 application encompasses significant areas of the upper Tweed around Tyalgum.

Presently there is no indication when a decision is likely, however The Echo understands it is is still being assessed.

Data amassed by the Kyogle-based Environmental Defenders Office (EDO),  indicates two PELs have been issued by the department since March – one to Eastern Star Gas for the Moree and Warrumbungle Ranges area and the other to AGL for Guyra.

The EDO’s Mark Byrne says the current regulatory structure is designed for orthodox prospecting but hopelessly inadequate to cope with the issues created by the new technology associated with coal-seam gas exploration.

In a submission to the NSW Coal and Gas Strategy scoping document earlier this year, Mr Byrne said one of the main issues with the current system is the underlying assumption that exploratory activities for CSG are benign.

Mr Byrne said the EDO called for a moratorium on CSG extraction and exploration while a strategic plan is developed with full community and independent scientific input.