NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has pleaded his government's guilt towards the Singleton LGA following the release of this year's Resources for Regions funding.
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For the second straight year Singleton has been neglected.
On this occasion, the Deputy Premier travelled to the region to speak with members of the Singleton council before conceding that his government must assess its process to prevent further embarrassment in the near future.
"I met with Jason (Linnane) and the mayor (Sue Moore) yesterday and I could tell that they were very disappointed," Mr Barilaro told the Singleton Argus.
"What Jason has actually done he has engaged with my agency to work through the process, the criteria and what data is required to be successful when they actually apply.
"He's done all of the right work and I feel at times that my bureaucrats have let him down."
Earlier this week council representatives highlighted that the Resources for Region program was established to benefit mining-affected communities in NSW.
They then highlighted how Singleton - which contributes $340 million in royalties to the state's coffers each year - continues to miss out.
During his visit Mr Barilaro personally pledged to review the funding program at a meeting with Cnr Moore and Linnane where he also committed to find another source to fund Singleton Council's $8.5 million Roads Upgrade program (targeting four major transport routes servicing the area's 17 coal mines).
However Singleton will remain empty-handed for the time being.
"That's why I turned up to Singleton yesterday to talk directly to both the general manager and the mayor about what I thought was a very good proposal, a 50% contribution by council, but it still didn't stack up," Mr Barilaro added.
"I genuinely believe there's something not right about how we assess the impacts and what those benefits are so I promised the mayor that we'd do a review.
"She (Cnr Sue Moore) was rightly upset about yesterday's announcement but we'll work with her on these projects and we'll work with her on the future."
There was a brief period where Singleton did benefit from this program.
The upgrade of the town centre, the expansion of Ryan Avenue and the intersection of Bridgman Road were aided by the program back in the midst of the decade.
"In the early years we saw something like $35 million worth of investment but that hasn't happened (in recent years)," he continued.
"An LGA like Singleton who is at the heart of the mining industry, if they can't get funding through a program like this then I think there is something wrong with the program."
Member for the Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen was also on hand to voice his disappointment.
"Council has done everything asked of it and beyond and if it's not working then we're the ones that have to change the rules," he told the Singleton Argus.
"I welcome the deputy premier's commitment to reviewing the whole requirement and structure of the Resources for Regions program."
He continued, "It is important that Singleton gets money out of such programs and they've done everything that they possibly can."
"If they are still not getting then the government is rightly going to review it so that the Singleton LGA can actually benefit."
