Wybong Action Group spokesman John Shewan said yesterday it was "disgraceful" that Muswellbrook Shire Council had allowed mine construction work to begin before required roadworks had been completed.

Mayor Martin Rush dramatically withdrew approval for early construction work at Anvil Hill after contractor Dave Patten was killed on Wybong Road last week.

Mr Patten's ute collided with an oversized truck carrying machinery to the mine.

Mr Shewan said the action group warned the council and NSW Department of Planning two years ago that allowing large vehicles to use the narrow road was an accident waiting to happen.

Wybong residents were not aware that support for early construction had been given until The Herald reported yesterday that the council had withdrawn its approval.

"[Allowing work to begin] is a disgraceful thing to happen," Mr Shewan said.

"It's disgraceful that it did happen because the community put in so much effort to warn the council and the mining company and the [NSW] Department of Planning."

Mr Shewan said the stretch of road where Mr Patten was killed was not wide enough for oversized traffic.

"The road is so narrow that any wide load travelling would really require traffic [ in the opposite direction] to be stopped," he said.

Cr Rush emphasised yesterday that the council still supported the establishment of the coalmine, despite moving to stop work at the site.

In a statement yesterday, Cr Rush said the council and Xstrata Coal were working through technical matters and hoped to resolve traffic issues by Monday.

Under a motion enacted by Cr Rush using executive powers, support would be reinstated should the council and Xstrata agree about a new traffic management plan for the coalmine.

The Department of Planning confirmed yesterday the mine's development approval would be unaffected by the council's recent action.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon called on Planning Minister Tony Kelly to investigate the matter.