Queensland resources minister has promised to meet a local mayor face to face before making a decision on a controversial coal seam gas project in the state's southeast.
Scott Stewart last Friday spoke with Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen over Zoom about Arrow Energy's application to extend two gas leases near Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.
The company halted operations there a decade ago following an 18-month community blockade of its drilling sites.
Arrow quietly applied to extend its leases in 2018, and as part of those applications it had to submit a plan for commercial gas extraction by 2033.
The mayor, community groups, activists and state MP Jon Krause are deeply concerned about Arrow's plans.
Mr Stewart says he's promised a final decision will not be made until he meets Mayor Christensen in person.
"This is about exploration in that area, not extraction at this stage," Mr Stewart told reporters on Thursday.
"I've given a commitment that I'll actually go down and walk the areas with them, they can point out their concerns with me then we'll actually meet face to face and spend some time with them.
"I've got a very open mind around this and I've made that very clear to the council and to the mayor that I'm open minded. No decision has been made yet."
The minister said like any resource application, it would be put through a rigorous process to ensure it stacked up financially, socially and environmentally.
The farming and tourism region wants a sustainable future, the council said, and is open to renewable energy projects.
The Scenic Rim mayor told AAP earlier this month he wanted talks with the government about future sustainable projects.
