Plan for go kart track at top of Mount

Bathurst Regional Council has received a development application from Bathurst Kart Club to build a $450,000 national level circuit at the iconic location.

The club had previously earmarked the disused Alec Lamberton Field as a site for the track, but those plans were scuttled by neighbouring residents’ noise concerns.

If the new DA is approved, it would see a 950 metre track built on the land behind Brock’s Skyline that is currently Mount Panorama lookout. 

The course would include a series of bends, several straights and a pit lane. 

Plans for a car park have also been included. 

The facility would be open seven days a week between 9am and 5pm to allow for daily practice and nine weekend race events each year. 

An environmental impact report by Anthony Daintith Town Planning included with the submission concluded the topography of the site could accommodate a go kart track and recommended the DA be approved by council.

The report also reinforced the positive impact the facility would have on the local economy. 

Bathurst Kart Club president Mark Dunbar yesterday said Mount Panorama was well suited to such a facility. 

He believes it could present a number of opportunities to younger people who dream of one day racing on the iconic Bathurst 1000 circuit.

“With Mount Panorama a home to motorsport, it would be fitting to have a karting track there as well,” Mr Dunbar said. 

“There are a lot of the V8 drivers that started out in go karts, so wouldn’t it be great to have a track there for kids that could one day lead to them racing in V8s?”

He said go karting was a growing sport and was very affordable for families. 

Council’s development assessment manager Richard Denyer said residents in the vicinity of the proposed location for the track had been notified of the DA and a number of submissions had already been received. 

“At this stage the intention was for the application to be referred to the Council Discussion Forum to be held on 5 August, with a decision regarding the DA to be made by council at a meeting after that date,” he said.