The future of the project is in uncertain hands without additional funds from the state government.

Residents have campaigned for the plant since the 1970s and have paid a sewer access charge of $559 annually for the project that was set to begin in 2018.

"I'm hoping we can go there cap in hand and tell residents it's blown out not as a result of our actions but simply because of price with estimates done a few years ago," Uralla Shire Council mayor Michael Pearce said.

At an extraordinary meeting on Monday night, councillors would have voted on whether to continue to charge the sewerage rate until the project's completion.

The council has sent letters to Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and the Department of Industry notifying them of the issue that will be on council's books for "years" if the extra funds aren't approved, Cr Pearce said.

"At the end of the day it's a health issue for these people," he said.

"They need to have proper sewerage, it's been a long time coming."

A community meeting at Bundarra will follow on Thursday, after council decides which way it will go in regard to the sewer access charge.

There are three options on the table, the first is that the charge continue for all residents in the sewer project area.

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The second is that the charge continue until the project completion date in 2020 as residents agreed to.

The council will the absorb charges between 2020 and the project's completion, with the rate put back on residents in the year after it's up and running.

The third option is to lift the charge for the coming year and reapply it from the financial year after the extra funds are secured.

Residents can discuss their concerns with the council on March 21 at the Bundarra Arts Hall from 2:30pm.

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