In a letter obtained by The Herald, state member for Cessnock Kerry Hickey pleads with the minister to intervene in Cessnock City Council's assessment processes, which he believes are strangling growth.

It is understood that developers have also written letters outlining long delays in planning assessments.

The letter says an application for the Golden Bear Resort at Pokolbin was lodged with the council in 2004 and the process is ongoing.

Mr Hickey says big projects are needed to ensure the economic future of the area but could fall by the wayside due to long waits for approval.

The letter is dated July 8.

It follows a report in The Herald last month that said leading Hunter developer Hilton Grugeon would direct investment away from Cessnock because it was too difficult to deal with the local council.

But the council has hit back at the assertions.

General manager Bernie Mortomore said the application for the Golden Bear Resort was in the State Government's in-tray awaiting rezoning.

Greens councillor James Ryan said developers "had it easy" under the former Labor-dominated council.

"We [now] don't have a dominant political party that can decide what's going to happen in its kitchen and then just come in and push it through council," Cr Ryan said.

"That's what's led to these complaints because they don't have it as easy as they used to."

A spokesman for Ms Keneally said developments worth between $10 million and $100 million would no longer go before councils.

They would divert to "joint regional planning panels".

The change came into effect two weeks ago.

The spokesman did not say if Cessnock council would be investigated.