Guest speakers told of their personal experiences of dealing with gas companies.

Sheep farmer Tony Pickard, whose property fronts onto the Pilliga State Forest, told of his five-year battle with a gas company operating an expanding gas field inside the forest.

Charmaine Cook, who operates a cropping and cattle property at Coolah with her husband Peter, displayed images of massive erosion on their land which she said was caused by the installation of an underground gas pipeline.

Both speakers recommended landowners interact with gas personnel with caution and check websites such as Lock The Gate, and talk with neighbours, their own solicitor and the Environmental Defender’s Office.

Gas company representatives have been approaching Merriwa district landholders, requesting access to properties.

Some landholders have signed agreements that they are now trying to rescind and one company has begun drilling an exploratory well on a farm, the meeting was told.

The Wednesday night meeting was the third held in Merriwa in four months.

The meeting was also told about progress to provide Merriwa district with an air quality monitor to measure small and large particles of pollution.

MHEG member Ted Finnie said that Merriwa was now almost surrounded by coal mines and at sunset, curtains of dust to the west, north and east were clearly visible.