An appeal has been launched in an ongoing battle over rates and responsibilities for councils and companies near Broken Hill.

Cristal Mining will appeal against a court order that it pay $2.5 million to the local council, after the Supreme Court found it had underpaid rates at the Ginkgo mineral sands mine project.

The Gingko mine and refinery primarily processes rutile and zircon; the raw ingredients for titanium dioxide, among other uses.

A sticking point in the case was over who should pay to repair roads in the Wentworth Shire, used frequently by the mining company.

Cristal Mining's east coast operations manager Chris Reynolds says the company will go back to court to find more clarity for the future.

“We want further clarification from the courts in relation to how local governments deal with these in the future,” he told the ABC this week.

“Consequently we've lodged the appeal, mainly to get a clearer picture of the rights and responsibilities of councils when negotiating rates, particularly with larger projects.”

Wentworth Mayor Don McKinnon says important services and planned upgrades will be stalled while the matter is in dispute. Mayor McKinnon says the council could end up with millions in legal bills by the time it is over, and has called on the New South Wales State Government for support.

“The State Government has been no benefit at all in this,” McKinnon said.

“They're the ones that get the direct royalties from the mines..

“We would like to see a similar situation like in Western Australia where there's royalties for regions, something like that would help us all get along together.”

The Mayor also had a warning to other councils about the thoroughness of their negotiations.

“I'd just say to any other shires be very careful when somebody comes to you and says we're going to have a mine in your area,” he said.

“Work out your road maintenance agreements before you start because it will be a cost on your community.

“Your community will suffer because we can't go ahead with those parks, toilets, boat ramps, all those sorts of things that our community rely and sports areas.”