New freedom of information documents reveal that seven coal seam gas wells located near the suburb of Spring Farm in greater western Sydney, have a history of problems including explosions and water leaks.
"The community was alarmed in August last year when gas leaked uncontrollably from a well at Spring Farm with a loud hissing noise for more than two hours" said spokesperson for Lock the Gate Alliance, Daniel Robins.
"Now, these new documents reveal that the same gas wells near the suburb have a history of problems - including a gas explosion, a water leakage and another safety incident.
"Four of these faulty coal seam gas wells are still producing gas less than 200 metres from homes in Spring Farm
"They are a disaster waiting to happen. It is very clear from these documents that gas wells and people do not, and should not, mix.
"Other documents also show that the wells have frequently been blocked by tubing or piping that has become stuck.
"People moving in to new suburbs expect to be safe from industrial developments, but at Spring Farm residents are forced to live cheek by jowl with intensive CSG mining.
"The documents also reveal a desperate lack of transparency and openness from AGL. They have told the community the volume of gas leaked last year was 10 times less than the much large volume they reported to the NSW government.
"We're calling on the Premier, Mike Baird, to step in and require AGL to decommission these wells, and to ensure that there are no wells operating within 2km of residential homes in NSW,” Mr Robins said.