A group of 25 residents presented the petition with 2000 signatures to shadow minister for energy and resources Lily D'Ambrosio when she visited the town on Thursday.

Ms D'Ambrosio said she would present the petition in parliament next week and call on the minister for energy and resources Russell Northe to engage better with the community and acknowledge their concerns. 

"What was the clear message for me was that despite having put out repeated invitations to the energy and resources minister and others in the Napthine government (residents) have been totally ignored and the government is failing to show leadership," Ms D'Ambrosio said.

She said the state government had a "lack of respect" for Costerfield residents.

Ms D'Ambrosio said Russell Northe had not yet personally visited Costerfield.

"He needs to, as a matter of priority, make a time in his diary to sit down with the community and work out in partnership with them a plan for him to address their concerns that is meaningful, utilizes scientific evidence, where there is validity to their concerns," she said.

"The community are just feeling ignored.

"Is it too much to ask for the minister to pay a visit?"

Ms D'Ambrosio said the government's handling of the Costerfield disaster was reminiscent of the Hazelwood mine fire in Morwell.

"It's a repeated practice of the government of failing to respond in a timely fashion to community concerns," she said. 

"We need a government that shows leadership and that has not been forthcoming from Russell Northe or indeed the government as a whole," she said. 

Ms D'Ambrosio said Labor would formulate a plan for Costerfield before November in time for the election. 

A spokesperson for the state government said it was "laughable" and "a bit rich" for Ms D'Ambrosio to visit Costerfield six months after the community first made its concerns known.

"When a complaint was made regarding dust levels in March, this government responded immediately and directed the mine to put in measures to reduce the dust which are now in place and working effectively," the spokesperson said. 

"Ms D'Ambrosio is arriving six months late and her only purpose today is to spread fear and misinformation and it is despicable she would act so irresponsibly and without regard for the community.

The spokesperson said the Costerfield mine was approved, opened and operated under the previous Labor government. 

"Suggestions that an expansion of the Mandalay mine activities at Costerfield led to increased dust deposition levels are unfounded.

"Mandalay Resources have not substantially changed their underground mining activities or production rates from the approvals granted in 2006 under the former Labor government.

The spokesperson said the government had kept in close contact with Costerfield and Heathcote residents organising individual household visits, holding an open day for residents, sending out letters and creating a website for information updates. 

"Departmental staff have also been and remain available to residents at any time to discuss any ongoing concerns."