Irrigation industry group Namoi Water says the NSW Government’s permission for AGL to fracture CSG wells in Gloucester is a dark sign of things to come.

The Baird Government has given approval for a six-year license extension and chemical extraction methods (fracking) in four wells at the AGL site, and Namoi Water says it could herald more gas exploration at nearby Narrabri.

The water body says the door is open for the application of similar conditions at the proposed Narrabri Gas Project, even though its operator Santos says they will not be needed.

Namoi Water chairman Matt Norrie has told the ABC that while Santos says it does not need to frack at present, it may want to frack in the future.

“Santos have said the way that the coal formations are, they don't need to frack [the Narrabri Project],” he said.

“But the way that these projects could end up in 30-40 years, we don't know where it's going to end up, and the fear is that it could end up in the hands of a scavenger company and fracking might be part of the process of squeezing the very last gas out.”

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission has explicitly told Santos that it would need a new project application if it wanted to use the chemical extraction method for the Narrabri Gas Project.

Namoi Water says the State Government has not upheld its support for community concerns over the process.

“Previously this Government had placed a moratorium on fracking due to community concern,” Mr Norrie said.

“In the process of the State Government trying to get the industry going over at Gloucester, it's a concern to see that they're willing to allow fracking to go ahead against very strong community opposition.”