Despite no new compelling information being put forward in either the report compiled by Council staff, or in Rio Tinto’s new application to close the road, they resolved to “apply to the Minister for Primary Industries to close Wallaby Scrub Road under s.34(1)(b) of the Roads Act, 1993.”

After this a further report will be brought back to Council at the completion of the consultation process related to the road closure to consider whether to endorse the closure of the road under s.37(2)(b) of the Roads Act, 1993.

On six previous occasions they have rejected supporting this contentious action. 

The most recent being in June 2016 when the majority of Councillor’s reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the historic thoroughfare which runs between Bulga and Warkworth.

At the time refusing not to sell the public asset to Rio Tinto so they could move forward with their fully-approved plans to expand their Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) open-cut mine.

An operation Rio Tinto plans on selling to Chinese miner, Yancoal.

Along with their neighbouring open-cut mine, Hunter Valley Operations.

The apparent backflip transpired after three of our local government representatives left the chamber during Monday night’s vote after declaring a pecuniary interest in the matter.

Deputy Mayor, Godfrey Adamthwaite left saying a family member works for Rio Tinto, Val Scott has recently discovered her first cousin David Dunstan from Jerrys Plains works at the mine, and Sarah Lukeman removed herself from the process because her husband manages Hunter Valley Operations.

This left the fete of the road in the hands of five Councillors that had previously voted against the closure – Mayor, Sue Moore, John Martin, Hollee Jenkins, Tony McNamara and Danny Thompson –and two new faces, Tony Jarrett and Sue George.

Cr McNamara was the only one who stood by his convictions to stop the sale of the road.

His motion to continue to oppose the road closure collapsed as no one else would second it. 

The final resolution left the residents of Bulga and Milbrodale, who were seated in the public gallery, in a state of disbelief. 

Their frustrations boiling over as they passed comment while filing out of the building.

Repeating the word “shame” and  phrases such as “turn coats”.

Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association, president, John Krey says after seven years of supporting the villages of Bulga and Milbrodale against the expansion of the Warkworth mine the Singleton Council has turned its back on the residents of these villages in favour of a Chinese multinational mining company. 

“Residents are demanding an explanation from each Councillor as to why they changed their vote.  No new facts were presented to Councillors other than a Council Officer’s report which was biased in favour of closing the road,” he says.

“The residents are not giving up and will be seeking further advice on the way forward to save Wallaby Scrub Road.”

A spokesperson for Coal & Allied, a subidiary of Rio Tinto, says we thank the Council for the thorough process it has followed and we note the decision includes the need for further community consultation. 

“We remain committed to working with the community, Bulga residents and Singleton Council to ensure a strong future for the village and the mine,” the spokesperson says. 

Immediately after making the decision to apply for the road to be closed, Council endorsed Mt Thorley Warkworth Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA).

The proposed VPA provides funds to improve and maintain community assets and it will now be placed public exhibition.

The value of the agreement is $11,000,000 over the life of the extended mine operations and will contribute to offset the impact of the mine.

It comprises of:

OPINION: Council rolls over and gives away our asset

by Louise Nichols

Six times Singleton Council voted to reject an application from Rio Tinto to close Wallaby Scrub Road but on Monday night they voted to give away our public asset. 

Only Councillor Tony McNamara stood firm for the residents of Bulga, and really all the ratepayers, in saying no to gifting to a multinational company what belongs to all of us our public road.

Fours councillors who previously voted to keep the road open did a volte-face on Monday night. The question must be asked why as nothing had changed in the application since they rejected it on June 20, 2016.

People would have chosen to elect these four councillors based on their vote of last year. How disappointed will they be feeling now?

And it is not  just any road Wallaby Scrub Road, it is part of our heritage Councillors, it was built by convicts in 1830s. It may be covered in tar today but its construction was by convicts something other Councils in the state think is worth preserving. 

Not Singleton Council. But then again its the same organisation that has stood by and watched the destruction of so much of our heritage think the villages of Ravensworth, Warkworth, Camberwell and now mostly likely Bulga.

Unlike Singleton Council this paper has consistently argued that Wallaby Scrub Road should not be closed.

This was also the opinion of that state’s highest appeal court when it upheld an earlier ruling by the Land and Environment Court to reject the expansion of Rio Tinto’s Warkworth mine.

Having the convictions of your beliefs can prove personally costly but we think its a very important trait to possess if you are in the public sphere. We all feel pressure and can be attacked for holding strong views.

But thank goodness some people do, like Jack Mundey the unionist who used ‘green bans’ to preserve our heritage, most notably The Rocks. And we can look even closer to home in our very own Wendy Bowman who has withstood tremendous pressure to ensure her farm and its water is not sacrificed like Wallaby Scrub Road.

Pity our councillors, with the exception of Cr McNamara, did not follow Mrs Bowman’s example. However is it unlikely as it is the same council that supports building, what can only be described as a heavy vehicle detour, across some of the best alluvial soils in the country.

Shame councillors shame.