Plenty of exposure and praise during Race Week
THE 2016 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 was watched by an average television audience of 3.9 million viewers per hour across the Fox Sports, Network Ten and WIN TV networks.
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The podium presentation was a highlight, ranking as the number one program across Australia on Sunday afternoon, while the dedicated Fox Sports Bathurst Channel was the number one subscription television channel in Australia last week.
Combined with 204,512 ticket sales, the 2016 event was the second largest Bathurst 1000 in terms of attendance on record, and #Bathurst1000 was trending on Twitter globally over the weekend.
What does this mean for our city? Worldwide television exposure, not only of the iconic Mount Panorama racing circuit and the race itself, but also a chance to showcase our city and region to this audience.
Combined with our annual off-track Race Week Festival, the city has had itself firmly in the spotlight.
Thousands attended the Saturday Street Fair in Kings Parade and lined the streets for the annual transporter and driver parade and there was a buzz in the air all week with the influx of visitors to the city for the race.
Among the visitors was South Australian Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, Recreation, Sport and Racing Leon Bignell and representatives of Ipswich Council, who were keen to experience first-hand the Bathurst 1000.
Also making their way to Bathurst over Race Week were leading Australian businessmen, team sponsors and team owners like Gerry Harvey and Roger Penske.
All were first-time visitors to the Mount and were full of praise for the operation of the event, the atmosphere and the facility itself.
They recognised the significant investment in the circuit and the event infrastructure, but also the investment in the Bathurst 1000 by the volunteers, the drivers, the team and the city.
All these elements combine to create an event which injects $25 million into the local economy and approaching $30 million into the region and places the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 as the major event staged in regional Australia.
Gary Rush, Bathurst mayor
Funding relief for flood-affected roads in state
RECENT flooding rain across so much of NSW has caused significant damage to roads. The roads battered by wet weather include key transport routes for communities and freight which need repairs ASAP.
After inspections by Roads and Maritime Services, some of the worst-affected areas have received Natural Disaster Funding, including Bathurst, Blayney and the Mid-Western region.
Councils will each receive $500,000 to start the mammoth task of rebuilding these important roads, and addressing safety problems for motorists.
THE inaugural Gone Fishing Day will be held this Sunday, October 16, when local fishing clubs right across the state organise family fun days and events to promote the sport of fishing.
The Sofala Central Acclimatisation Society (CAS) will host a family fun day on the banks of the Macquarie River, adjacent to the Eglinton Bridge, kicking off from 7am, and the Wallerawang CAS will host its event on the shores of Lake Wallace, with registration from 8am.
Local schools will be cooking up a barbecue lunch, with funds going back to Eglinton and Wallerawang public schools.
There will be face-painting, workshops and more.
Gone Fishing not only gives people the opportunity to try their hand at an enjoyable pastime, it will also educate people on the importance of habitats, protecting the environment and responsible fishing.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole
