The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has warned mining companies not to appeal against council rate adjustments.

With mining community councils within weeks of bringing down their annual budget, the LGAQ is urging mining companies not to follow the same path as Swiss company, Xstrata, which took legal action to drastically cut its rates.

"Such action has a significant impact on the very communities that support the mining businesses," LGAQ president, Cr Paul Bell said.

"We have no reason to believe other mining companies will follow the Xstrata path – they have all proven themselves good corporate citizens," Cr Bell said.

Cr Bell said councils in the north-west mining province, the Galilee, Bowen and Surat Basins were all on the verge of bringing down their budgets and expected mining companies to pay their fair share.

"We cannot return to the days when mines earning hundreds of millions annually paid as little as $20,000 or $30,000 in rates. No reasonable person would believe that is a fair go," he said.

Cr Bell said he was hopeful other mining companies would not follow Xstrata's tracks.

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