Anti CSG group welcomes NSW ban NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he can't wind the clock back on approved coal seam gas leases but he can protect families in residential areas from new tenements. A ban on all coal seam gas mining within two kilometres of residential areas across the state was endorsed by cabinet late on Monday. The government is expected to announce details of the decision, which includes a buffer zone around industry clusters, such as horse breeders and wine producers, later on Tuesday. The ban will apply to any coal seam gas proposal which has yet to be approved under the Environment Protection and Assessment Act or the Petroleum (Onshore) Act. Mr O'Farrell told Macquarie Radio that residential areas should never have been included in leases. "I'd like to be able to wind the clock back, I'd like to be able to stop the former government granting exploration licences and approving CSG activities in many parts of the state, but I can't do that," he said. What I can do is ensure that those that are operating are rigorously assessed. He said the government would empower the Environment Protection Agency to regulate longstanding mining tenements and enforce licence conditions. Chief Scientist and Engineer Mary O'Kane will review all CSG activity in NSW and report on any risks by July. The NSW Greens on Tuesday said the ban was a good start but questioned why agricultural land and rural residents had been passed over. "It's just commonsense that you don't turn residential areas into gas fields, but the same protection should be implemented for our water catchments, aquifers and farm land," Greens mining spokesman Jeremy Buckingham said. He said CSG activity should not be taking place in sensitive environments like the Sydney water catchment, the Northern Rivers, Gloucester Valley, Pilliga Forest, Southern Highlands and the Great Artesian Basin aquifer. Community environment group Lock The Gate Alliance welcomed the government announcement but said wider reforms were needed.