Karen Tuynman, who lives in the street, said she and her neighbours have had enough, and despite contacting the police and Bathurst Regional Council with information about the problem, they feel nothing is being done.

Mrs Tuynman said the situation had been going on for more than a year. She said the street, which runs into the treatment works, was a dead end and of no use to anyone, except drug dealers who work under the cover of darkness and isolation.

She is calling on council to install lighting and bollards, which she said would prevent people gaining access to the area.

Mrs Tuynman and other neighbours have contacted police as soon as suspicious cars arrive, but by the time police arrive the deal is done and everyone has left.

“We get the feeling they think it is too much paper work,” she said.

However, Crime Manager with Chifley Local Area Command Inspector Luke Rankin said this was not the case and all information received by police is being followed up.

“Police are aware that the area around the northern end of Macquarie Street, Bathurst is allegedly being frequented by users of prohibited drugs,” he said.

“We have included the area on the taskings for our crews and will be patrolling the area when available. We will also respond to specific complaints about suspicious behaviour in that area and will be discussing the issue with other stakeholders to try and identify long-term solutions.”

Inspector Rankin said at about 2pm on  Wednesday police were patrolling that area when they stopped a red Mitsubishi sedan and spoke with the driver, a 43-year-old Bathurst man. 

During a search of the vehicle police allegedly located a quantity of methamphetamine (approximately one gram).

The drugs were seized by police and the man was issued a court attendance notice for the offence of possess a prohibited drug.

Inspector Rankin said a second arrest was made on Thursday morning in the area.

“At about 6am on Thursday morning police were again patrolling the area when they stopped a taxi and spoke to the passengers. Checks revealed one of those persons, a 36-year-old man, had outstanding conviction warrants and was also subject of strict bail conditions not to enter Bathurst,” he said. 

“The man was arrested by police and charged by virtue of the warrants. He was refused bail by police and appeared in Bathurst Local Court where the court ordered the man be released on conditional bail.”