Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts announced earlier this month that the government had cancelled three exploration licences near Nowra, Rylstone and Moree because the company, Leichhardt Resources, had failed to fulfil its conditions.

Through a Lord Mayoral minute at Monday night's meeting, Gordon Bradbery proposed the council thank the government for listening to its concerns.

"I think it's appropriate at times, when the government does something that is worthy of a pat on the back, that it's noted and we write accordingly," he said.

"After all, we're well attuned to writing to tell them what to do."

Greens councillor Jill Merrin agreed, but urged the council to go further in its letter and reiterate its strong opposition to coal seam gas exploration in the Illawarra.

The council has previously supported banning exploration and mining in drinking-water catchments.

Cr Merrin said the council should ask the government to keep investigating other non-compliant licences, and request the state to impose a permanent ban on CSG mining and exploration in the West Dapto release area and the Sydney drinking water catchment.

"I think it's very important to thank the state government. However, it's been a long and painful process of cancelling those licences," she said.

"It seems to me that it would make sense to do the same thing across the state in cases of non-compliance and we need to extend the government's temporary ban into a permanent one."

Cr Merrin's amendment was supported unanimously.