The Muswellbrook local government area has been confirmed as one of the state's fastest growing council areas by Australian Bureau of Statistics data on building approvals.

While Maitland has led the Hunter's recent charge in residential expansion, Muswellbrook is also moving ahead on the back of new mines and increasing output at existing ones.

Cr Rush said state-significant projects such as the Anvil Hill mine and power stations in his area poured millions into State Government coffers.

"It is unfair that 7000 ratepayers fund 600 kilometres of road that services state-significant projects," he said.

The Upper Hunter town ranked 10th in the top 20 of the state's expanding towns and suburbs.

Figures for the December quarter showed approvals rose from 13 in 2008 to 42 in 2009.

Cr Rush said if the State Government continued to reap rewards from the natural resources of the area but returned little to support the region, things would have to change.

"I don't how, if this continues, the council can continue to support these developments," he said.

Cr Rush said mining companies owned 50 per cent of land in the shire, excluding national parks, and this was having an urbanising effect on the population.

He said infrastructure costs as well as services such as child care were putting enormous strain on the council coffers.

"The least the State Government can do is put a couple of million into the local region to support the people who live there," he said.

Housing Institute of Australia executive director David Bare said building approvals in the top 10 regional centres were well beyond the state average.