The Nationals have failed in a bid to make the Northern Rivers of New South Wales coal seam gas free.

The motion for a gas-free Northern Rivers was put to the party's annual state conference in the Hunter region on Friday.

Deputy Premier and Nationals leader Troy Grant says the Northern Rivers community clearly does not want coal seam gas, but the motion still fell flat.

The plan was put forward by the member for Clarence, Chris Gulapti, and seconded by the Federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan.

But the member for Lismore, Thomas George, opposed it.

“Why do we need the motion?” he said.

“Because we were doing exactly what the motion said when I announced that we would buy [Petroleum Exploration Licence] PEL 445, two weeks before the election.”

Mr George said a vote was unnecessary, because the party was already working to end CSG in the area.

“We will achieve a gas free Northern Rivers, we need to buy the PELs back, I announced prior to the election we will buy 445, that would take 80 per cent of gas away from the Northern Rivers,” he said.

Metgasco, a company that has created controversy in the region, owns PEL 16, 13 and 426.

Mr Grant, the Nationals leader, said he supports the views of regional communities.

He said regional NSW is changing, and the Nationals need to change with it.