BMX Australia announced last Friday that Bathurst had won its bid to host the 2016 national titles, despite work not yet starting on the city’s new track. But Bathurst Regional Council has set aside $1 million in its draft 2015-16 management plan to see the track come to fruition and hopes work will be complete by the end of the year.

And, as Cr Rush told last Tuesday night’s council meeting, hosting the national titles next year could be just the start.

Cr Rush credited the work of Cr Greg Westman in helping to secure the national titles and said his relationship with BMX power brokers as a current competitor and administrator of the sport locally had proven invaluable for council.

“It’s a real coup for Bathurst to get an event like this and, with Cr Westman’s ongoing relationship with BMX Australia, there is some chance of this council bidding to host a world championship here in Bathurst some time down the track,” he said.

“Considering there will be only two facilities in Australia ranked as world quality [Bathurst and Chandler in Brisbane], the new BMX track is a facility that will attract much visitation over a period of time.”

Cr Rush said BMX events attracted a high number of visitors per competitor and it was possible 12,000 people could be in Bathurst for next year’s nationals.

And while no date has been set for the titles, Cr Rush said local hotels and motels were already receiving inquiries about accommodation next year.

“The Chandler people who are hosting this year’s nationals conducted an economic impact statement which showed a boost to the local economy of around $10 million,” he said.

“Next year is an Olympics year and the number of participants at the nationals usually goes up because they have to go through the qualifying process, so I would predict that next year’s nationals will be even bigger than this year’s.”