THE Murwillumbah-based lobby group Northern Rivers Guardians has applauded a NSW Government decision to check all coal seam gas exploration licences but says what is needed is a moratorium.

The group’s spokesman Michael McNamara said the planned “desk audit” of all existing coal seam gas exploration licences was welcome.

“The government has, since being elected in March, taken some small steps to address community concerns about coal seam gas mining. The steps have been very small but heading in the right direction,” Mr McNamara said.

Mr McNamara called on the government to go further by implementing a full moratorium on all coal seam gas exploration and mining, not just new applications.

He said the community was concerned about impacts on existing industry, other land uses, health and the environment.

He said the final decision about whether this technology is allowed to proceed should rest with the community "not with anonymous bureaucrats in Sydney".

“The final decision about whether or not this technology is allowed to proceed should be dependent on addressing the legitimate concerns raised by communities around the state,” Mc McNamara said.

“The government’s 60-day freeze on new applications is about to expire but our concerns are yet to be addressed in any meaningful way”.

“The government imposed freeze is merely an administrative arrangement to allow a ‘clearing of the decks’ while they move to a new system of assessment. The new system of assessment does not include sufficient and necessary measures to safeguard environmental or community interests or those of agriculture and other affected industries.

“There is no requirement in the state government’s new regime for an assessment of the impact of mining on other affected industries such as tourism.”