VICTORIAN councils are calling on the government to develop a coal seam gas working party.

The councils want more information on the mining practice, its risks and potential impacts on land and water.

At last week's Municipal Association of Victoria state meeting the councils backed a motion calling for such a body to be set up to look into the impacts of exploration and mining.

The MAV wants the Department of Primary Industries to set up the group and report the current extent of exploration and mining now approved in the state.

It has also called on the State Government to establish a parliamentary committee on coal seam gas to investigate whether the existing regulations are adequate.

In addition, the motion asks the MAV to "liaise with relevant State and Federal Government agencies to ensure land owners are adequately protected through all stages of coal seam gas mining developments".

MAV president Bill McArthur told Weekly Times Now that the all the motions that were carried in last week's meeting would now be referred back to the MAV council, which would then decide on what action to take.