Coal and Allied’s plan to open-cut mine through and beyond Wallaby Scrub Road at Warkworth, and extend the life of the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine by 10 years, has left Singleton councillors and Bulga residents furious.

The seven-kilometre road between the Golden Highway and Putty Road is the battleline between coal companies arguing for jobs, federal and state governments eyeing royalties and the economy, and Hunter communities worried where it will all end.

‘‘They had their approval in 2003 which took the mine right up to Wallaby Scrub Road,’’ Bulga-Milbrodale Progress Association president Stewart Mitchell said.

‘‘On the other side is a non-disturbance area which by definition is set aside in perpetuity, but what they’ve done is gone back to the Department of Planning and said we want to mine through there now because the price of coal has gone through the roof.’’

The extension, if approved, will take open-cut mining close to the village of Bulga.

The road closure will end the quickest route south for thousands of people from Bulga out to the New England area.

In June last year Singleton councillors unanimously rejected the road closure.

On September 5 this year councillors rejected an attempt by council staff to reconsider the issue in a confidential session after two senior council officers met a senior Department of Planning representative.

Tonight, councillors will consider a Department of Planning proposal that the council receive community funding of $500,000 a year for 11 years from Coal and Allied ‘‘in deference to council’s objections’’.

Councillor Alison Howlett said the road closure was ‘‘non-negotiable’’, and she had ‘‘huge problems’’ with the department meeting council officers about councillors reconsidering their resolution.