The company wants to close Wallaby Scrub Road, near Bulga, to extend its Mount Thorley Warkworth mine and offered up to $500,000 a year for the additional 11-year life of the mine as part of a proposed voluntary planning agreement with the council.

The council chamber was packed with residents opposed to the road closure because of its damage to the Warkworth woodlands and significant Aboriginal sites.

Cr Alison Howlett asked the council to stand up to the government, to restate the council’s original objections and refuse the voluntary planning agreement.

Cr Lyn MacBain said the Singleton region has seen its villages fall to coalmining one by one.

‘‘I have had enough,’’ she said.

‘‘It is time we said no.’’

Although the consent authority for the mine extension is the Planning Assessment Commission, the council’s planning and regulations manager Mark Ihlein told the councillors the road was council’s responsibility.

The Department of Planning is assessing the extention proposal.

Mount Thorley Walkworth General Manager Operations Cam Halfpenny said in a statement that Coal & Allied had proposed to deliver more than $11million in a Voluntary Planning Agreement with the council.

“Coal & Allied is committed to continuing to work with council and the New South Wales Government to deliver this outcome for the community,’’ Mr Halfpenny said.

? Singleton Council has re-elected Sue Moore as mayor for a second term.

Cr Moore tied six votes all with veteran councillor John Martin in the final vote.

The winning candidate was drawn from a black hat.

Jerrys Plains farmer and mine worker Paul Nichols was elected deputy mayor.