A forum was held yesterday in Singleton to gain community input into a proposed coal and gas strategy for NSW.

But Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association representative Stewart Ewen said community consultation was 10 years too late.

"[The government] are way too late and are now in catchup mode," he said.

About 200 residents protested against the approval of AGL's coal seam gas extraction in Gloucester before the forum.

Barrington Gloucester Stroud Preservation Alliance chairman Graeme Healy said gas migration into the area and damage to aquifers in the drilling phase were major concerns.

"People don't want gas wells and coalmines in their backyard," Mr Healy said.

"If the government want us to believe this is a serious process to influence future development of the coal and gas industries why would they approve a major new project . . . the approval should have been put on hold."

A spokesman for Planning Minister Tony Kelly said the Gloucester project was automatically determined by the Planning Assessment Commission.

Independent candidate for the Upper Hunter Tim Duddy was concerned a senior bureaucrat said during the forum that the only inhibitor for doubling coal production in the Hunter was the inability of the coal port to handle it.

"There was no consideration of health and the environment," Mr Duddy said.

"It was important [the government] saw how the community felt about the issues."