Lobby group Stop CSG Illawarra, which is campaigning for a moratorium ahead of a royal commission, said Mr Evans should "stand up for his community".

However, Mr Evans has replied that he could not assume any group represented the views of the entire electorate.

Stop CSG Illawarra spokeswoman Jess Moore said that Mr Evans had mentioned in a meeting with him this month that he, too, had his concerns about coal seam gas mining.

However, he had also said gas was a necessary fuel and he would not oppose approved drilling — including in the drinking water catchment, despite the known risks.

The government had adequately informed the community of its position, he had said.

Ms Moore said the group was campaigning to protect drinking water, the environment and public health from well-documented damage from coal seam gas mining.

"Going with the status quo amounts to backing the mining companies and opposing the community," she said.

EVANS RESPONDS

Lee Evans said he had given an assurance he would consider the group’s advice, along with that of experts in the departments of environment, resources and energy.

‘‘I am committed to consider and represent the interests of everyone in my electorate, from private residents to members of organised activist groups,’’ he said.

‘‘Some of my constituents are understandably concerned about coal seam gas mining in their local areas and I have relayed their concerns to the relevant ministers.

‘‘I cannot assume that any group represents the views of the entire electorate.’’

Mr Evans said the previous government in 2009 had granted an exploration licence in the Illawarra scheduled to expire in 2014.

The Coalition government was ‘‘not in the business of retracting legally binding licences’’, nor had it granted any new extraction licences at this stage.