The council made its position known last month but raised the issue again at its ordinary meeting this week.

Cr David Keegan said the issue had become more urgent since last month’s talks due to the Land and Environment Court challenge against AGL’s Gloucester Gas coal seam gas project.

Cr Keegan said it was important the council follow the outcomes of the court case and take a more pro-active approach to the issue.

His motion, supported by the council, will see the council monitor the court challenge and continue to lobby State members of parliament to express the council’s in-principle opposition to coal seam gas mining without adequate protection of groundwater.

The council’s MidCoast Water delegates will also make representations to the water authority for them to also monitor the situation.

The AGL court challenge has been making major news across the country.

AGL paid $370 million for the rights to the licence area in 2008 and hopes to begin producing gas in 2017.

The project was given the green light in February.

Located in the coal-rich Gloucester Basin, the approval covers an area of 210 square kilometres, and includes current approval for up to 110 gas wells, an underground gas pipeline, a facility to compress and process gas, a 15-megawatt gas-fired electricity power station and a water-treatment plant.

The Barrington -Gloucester -Stroud Preservation Alliance is seeking a judicial review of the approval.