In a mayoral minute to the October council meeting Mayor Cr Geoff Slack said that the GRL coal exploration licences fall due for renewal in March 2012.

He said council has consistently reviewed the applications for exploration by GRL and has previously submitted requests to the state government asking that the licences not be renewed or that alternations be made to reduce the effective area under exploration and development.

Cr Slack said councillors and senior staff had previously met with the minister and senior department staff from Mineral Resources to make requests for the removal of exploration licences. He said council had asked that the licences be revoked and requested that the identified scenic protection areas be excluded from any mining expansion.

Cr Slack said with the change of government it was again time to request that the licences be looked at again.

Council passed the mayoral minute, to write to the Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Chris Hartcher requesting him to meet with the mayor, deputy mayor and general manager, to discuss, on behalf of the community, the need to cancel or review the boundaries of the coal exploration licences held by Gloucester Resources Ltd as well as the need to consider the long term protection of the Gloucester valley from any future mining activities, unanimously.