The proposed sites for the pilot wells are within two private land holdings along Fullerton Cove Road and Cabbage Tree Road.

APLLICATION

< p>DART energy applied to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities in October for approval of its self-prepared environmental assessment.

If given the okay DART will still need development approval from the NSW Government.

COVE RESIDENTS

But Fullerton Cove resident and architect Justin Hamilton said he wanted to see the federal and state governments ask DART and all coal seam gas and mining companies for independent environmental assessments, citing concerns about the objectiveness of self-reports as the reason.

DART SPOKESMAN

A DART Energy spokesman told the Examiner the company had gone to the federal government in a bid to be environmentally responsible.

"DART is primarily subject to NSW environmental approvals but the company also decided it would also ensure it complied with the Commonwealth's EPBC as an extra level of environmental due diligence," the spokesman said.

SUBMISSIONS

< p>While no submissions were received against the proposal during the public exhibition phase, a number were submitted late and are being considered.

Mr Hamilton confirmed he had made a submission.

He stated his main concerns were the possible impact of the adjacent internationally recognised wetlands, contamination of the underground water storage aquifers and the flow-on effect to the drinking water supply to the Lower Hunter.

A DART spokesperson said the company was aware of the aquifer and sand bed issues raised by residents.

But the company argued they were not a major problem as the drilling would be half a kilometre below the aquifer levels.