Great Lakes councillor Linda Gill moved the motion at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of council but only managed to secure the support of two of the other eight councillors.

Cr Gill said AGL would soon start exploring for coal seam gas near Wards River.

“AGL has confirmed it will drill three exploration test wells and shallow and deep water monitoring bores at Wards River,” she said.

“The wells still require government approvals and are outside stage one of the Gloucester Gas Project.

“This work is part of AGL’s overall assessment for coal seam gas across the entire Gloucester and Great Lakes exploration licence area and does not form part of the stage one project.”

Cr Gill said she moved the motion in light of the growing concern by the community of the risks and expansion of coal seam gas, the lack of evidence by the industry to the contrary and the recent suspension of AGL’s operation in Gloucester.

A subsequent motion was passed to discuss MidCoast Water’s position statement on extractive industries at the next ordinary meeting with the possibility of adopting it as a council position on CSG.

Cr Gill has been a prominent opponent of AGL’s coal seam gas operations in Gloucester and a frequent participant in protest activities against the company locally.