Coal seam gas: NSW communities in limbo due to expired licences

Lack of action on 14 expired coal seam gas exploration licences now an election issue for uncertain communities

The New South Wales government has failed to close a loophole that effectively allows expired coal seam gas exploration licences to be extended indefinitely, despite calls from rural communities for certainty ahead of the state election.

More than a dozen licences, mostly in the state's north-west, have remained active past their expiration dates while the government assesses renewal applications from gas companies. In some cases, those applications have been held up in the system for years.