Western Victoria campaigner Alison Marchant said they were expecting unconventional gas mining to be banned across the state “any day now”.

“We’ve shown there is no social license for this industry and people are angry,” she said. 

More than 75 communities across Victoria have declared themselves gas-field free – including Port Fairy and Mortlake-Bessiebelle – but Ms Marchant said hundreds more would be affected if gas mining was permitted.

Ms Marchant said Lock the gate was focused on preventing the “irresponsible and dangerous mining” of a “volatile and toxic industry”.

“There’s evidence to show how risky unconventional gas mining is it to health, agriculture, air and water,” she said. “Community pressure from day dot has been forcing the industry not to go ahead,” she said. 

The Victorian Farmers Federation has echoed this view and call for the state government to ban all exploration and extraction of onshore gas.

Land Management Committee chairman Gerald Leach said its biggest fear was the risks of contamination to groundwater reserves.  

“The VFF cannot support lifting the ban until farmers are convinced there are no risks to (production),” he said. “No-one knows the true environmental impact of onshore gas mining, so it would be crazy to lift the moratorium until there’s scientific evidence that the risks can be managed,”

Mr Leach said the VFF expected the ban to remain for both unconventional and conventional gas mining to protect the interests of farmers and water resources. 

Conventional gas involves drilling directly into gas trapped in porous rocks while unconventional gas refers to an underground source, extracted by the high-pressure pumping of water, sand and sometimes chemicals to release the natural gas.

South West Coast member Roma Britnell said she would be keeping a close eye on the issue. 

“As a farmer, I have many concerns about the potential effects on-shore activities could have,” she said. “The community has also made their feelings on this issue very clear.”

Ms Britnell said the region was “poised to be the fruit bowl” of the nation and a major player in international markets. 

“We need a healthy farming environment to accomplish this,” she said. 

Industry and Resources Minister Wade Noonan will make a decision in parliament this month.