The council’s chief executive officer Warwick Peckham yesterday said that whatever the land ends up being used for, it would “definitely not” have an impact on the races.

“It won’t. We deliberately amended the original claim to make sure ongoing access by emergency vehicles to the Mount Panorama circuit would not be threatened,” Mr Peckham said.

“There is no way in the world this is going to be affecting the big race and I can assure everyone we will work with all parties.”

Mr Peckham said no decision had been made on future plans for the land but the council had been approached from a number of groups with suggestions.

“We’ve had to wait eight years to win the land claim so we won’t be rushed into making any final decision,” he said.

“Any decision on the future of the disused nature reserve is for the membership of the BLALC.”

“We will work with all parties to ensure the land is used effectively. We are not here to destroy the land. It is part and parcel of us.”

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s representative for the Wiradjuri region, Craig Cromelin, welcomed the land claim victory.

“It is regretful that we are constantly being forced into litigation to defend our legal rights to make legitimate claims for land under the compensatory regime enshrined in the Aboriginal Land Rights Act,” Mr Cromelin said.

“Sadly there is little understanding by the wider community that valid land claims remain the sole form of compensation available to Aboriginal people in New South Wales for the dispossession of land.”

The land claim for the reserve was originally lodged August 21, 2001 after Bathurst City Council closed the former animal and nature reserve to the public.

But the state Minister for Lands rejected the claim, saying the park was not claimable land.

BLALC appealed the decision in the Land and Environment Court who found the reserve was claimable lands because it was not being lawfully used.

The minister appealed the decision and that appeal was dismissed by the NSW Supreme Court on June 10.