A federal government taskforce is being formed to get coal seam gas flowing freely in New South Wales.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane is expected to announce the complete makeup of the group soon, which is expected to include fund manager and Hunter Valley farmer David Paradice, former Coal Association chief executive Nikki Williams, Margaret MacDonald-Hill; a prominent mining figure and chair of the AGL Hunter & Camden Community Consultative Committees, and fifthe-generation Camden dairy farmers Edgar Downs.

The team’s expertise covers all aspects of agriculture, gas extraction and the long-running issues between the two.

The group has been formed to try and work out a way to get CSG extraction happening on a larger scale in a state where community opposition is widespread.

Fairfax media outlets say the group has been meeting informally since November last year, reviewing case reports from CSG and farming issues around the state to what can be done.

There is plenty of passionate debate about CSG mining in NSW, where the State Government recently announced expanded CSG exclusion zones – which offer protection to critical agricultural efforts. 

Reports say the group will seek to cut through the emotional outrage of large parts of the population, to find the fundamental concerns of landowners and rural residents. The group intends to offer pragmatic advice on what can be done to fire up CSG developments.

Currently, NSW imports 95 per cent of its gas and claims it will be caught short when new ports in Queensland allow exports to move into high gear. Some manufacturers complain they cannot secure affordable gas prices for long enough periods, and are crying out for consistent contracts, reports say.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has praised the way CSG and farming work together in his home state of Queensland, but the much more intensive forms of agriculture common in NSW could prevent that kind of happy relationship for now.