Hunter Valley Protection Alliance spokesman, Graeme Gibson, said; “It’s exploration by stealth.

“Trying to explore on Commonwealth land, such as the army base, is excluded under the company’s licence and there’s been no community consultation about it.

“Either there is a secret understanding between AGL officials and the state government or they’re willing to bet millions of dollars that government ministers were bald-faced liars when they made pre-election promises to protect the Hunter Valley’s wine growing region from coal seam gas mining.”

Mr Gibson said his group found out about AGL’s army base application by accident when a member of the community went to the defence department’s internet website looking for information on another subject.

The Argus asked AGL for comment yesterday and media spokeswoman Sally Highducheck forwarded a two sentence response.

“As part of our ongoing consultation process for our natural coal seam gas exploration program, AGL has sought access to the Singleton army base to conduct preliminary exploration work.

“This application has been made to the relevant authority, the Department of Finance and Deregulation.”

The Argus was unable to obtain comment from an army base spokesman.

Mr Gibson said: “AGL’s army base application is typical of the secretive attitude of methane miners to gain approval then notify the community and pretend that it is involved in community consultation.

“Someone should speak to AGL and try and explain to them in simple, easy to understand terms, that “ongoing consultation” does not mean sneaking off and trying to explore on Commonwealth land when the petroleum exploration licence excludes ‘lands vested in the Commonwealth of Australia’.

“What is the point in having conditions in the licence when AGL completely ignores them?”