The Geographical Names Board will consider the proposal at its next meeting on March 31 following a lengthy process of consultation and public submissions.

The Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council last year made the formal request to the GNB to have their elders’ traditional name for Mount Panorama properly recognised, and the plan split the community when made public by the Western Advocate.

While many saw the proposal as a worthy act of reconciliation in Bathurst’s bicentennial year, others – particularly motor racing fans right across Australia – feared the dual naming could be the first step towards an indigenous “takeover” of the famous motor racing circuit.

But GNB chairman Des Mooney moved to allay those fears when he called for public submissions on the proposal, saying the dual naming would mean the area could be referred to by either name.

“Dual naming is very different to renaming,” Mr Mooney said.

“Once an area has been dual named, it can be referred to by either name and it is not intended for one name to take precedence over the other.

“In this instance, if the proposal for dual naming is successful, it will mean that the area would retain the name Mount Panorama but could also be called ‘Wahluu’.

“Dual naming of geographical areas is fairly common, with Australia’s most famous example being Uluru/Ayers Rock.”

Bathurst Regional Council endorsed the plan to dual name Mount Panorama “Wahluu”, but only narrowly.

Councillors at last November’s policy committee meeting went within a single vote of refusing to have council back the plan, with the decision coming down to a 4-3 vote.

Councillors Bobby Bourke, Warren Aubin and Michael Coote all voted against supporting the dual naming proposal, with Cr Bourke saying he wanted to hear more from the community, Cr Aubin saying the feedback he had received from the community was mostly negative and Cr Coote believing the proposal had been sprung on councillors out of the blue.