Cr Hogan said he explained council's position to the Manning Alliance last week and told chairman Peter Epov that he was "personally opposed", but that he could not speak on behalf of council.

"I've made no secret of that fact," the mayor said yesterday.

"But as for making a submission to the inquiry, I have told Mr Epov that we wouldn't, and that the reason is we have not taken our position yet.

"We will be making a decision when we have listened to both sides of the argument."

Cr Hogan said when a public forum in Taree was initially proposed, he and other councillors had resolved to attend it, to learn more. But the forum hasn't eventuated at this stage, he said.

"After that we will meet together to prepare a paper with our views on the issue."

His delegated authority does not cover matters of policy such as this, he added.

"I'm not going to make a submission to the Legislative Council inquiry on my own."

The mayor said he has kept abreast of the issue by being a delegate on MidCoast Water and having attended a briefing with mining company AGL on its 110 wells in the area between Gloucester and Newcastle.

"I am aware of what's happening on the whole concept of mining in the Gloucester area, and I will keep monitoring the situation in our area."