The ruling was in relation to Narrabri Underground Stage 3 Project, with the IPC siding with Whitehaven's planning agreement offer of just $1.4 million, despite GSC having estimated the impact of the development would be roughly $3.3 million.

Cr Hooke said he believed it was unfair for small communities to have to flip so much of the bill on behalf of huge companies like Whitehaven.

"The IPC has basically thrown us under a bus as far as the community is concerned, we went to the IPC saying the Whitehaven offer is far too light and this is the reason why," he said.

"For the IPC to be taken seriously and as a genuinely independent body, it must enforce realistic, meaningful and equitable compensation via the planning agreement process for local government areas that are impacted by state significant developments."

He said Whitehaven's own domicile figures indicated its workforce is made up of roughly 50-50 Narrabri and Gunnedah residents, but Narrabri Shire Council received around $1.2 million extra.

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Mr Hooke did mention, however, that he was not holding the IPC decision against Whitehaven, as he understands it has an obligation to its stakeholders.

"Whitehaven have a corporate position that they have to take, and if they can look after their shareholders then they have to do so," he said.

"So the least that they can offer, they will offer."

Council has no capacity to appeal the IPC's decision, but it has said it will call on Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson to speak to Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts about reviewing the process to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Mr Anderson said he was aware of the issue and was waiting for GSC to contact him with a request.

"We understand council will be making representations to Mr Anderson detailing their concerns relating to the Independent Planning Commission process," a spokesperson for Mr Anderson said.

"We look forward to hearing council's concerns so that appropriate representations can be made to the relevant minister."

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