Landowners and residents launched the blockade on late Monday to stop AGL from putting a coal seam gas (CSG) drill rig into place, angry that the company had approval to proceed with 110 gas wells.

“AGL has made this decision to allow open discussions to continue,” AGL spokesman Nathan Vass told The Land.

Barrington-Gloucester- Stroud Preservation Alliance (BGSPA) spokesperson Graeme Healy said it was a positive move.

“We trust them on that, and their willingness to negotiate and we are considering our position and clarifying what we are willing to accept in terms of a water study,” he said.

“The question we are wresting with is are we willing to have a study that uses their data and have an independent peer review. There is divergent opinion – people don’t trust mining companies to do studies on water impacts,” Mr Healy said.

He said while BGSPA was co-ordinating the blockade, it was driven by landowners and community members who expected BGSPA to act.

“It was spontaneous in the sense it came together quickly and it’s local people, but we had been talking about the possibility of a blockade since Spring Ridge – that was the tipping point in a lot of people’s minds.”

At present, about 25 people are at the blockade in the rain, he said.

The group initially wanted AGL to stop activities until an independent water study was provided.

The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance appealed against AGL’s plans in the Land and Environment Court and expects a decision to be handed down early next year.