Just three weeks ago, council could not find $3000 for the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program.

Then last week, $2 million ($1 million from council and $1m from the NSW Government) magically appears for this boardwalk. Work that out. 

The $2 million question is this: will walkers actually use it, and if not, what will be the fine if they do walk on the unsafe parts of the circuit after the boardwalk (or is it a track) is completed?

Surely, it would be more economical if the NSW Police actually enforced the existing road rules for walkers on the Mount who regularly break the law. 

The Pedestrian Council openly admits road laws are not enforced as fines are small. It’s around $20 for failing to walk towards oncoming traffic, for instance. 

Further, council cannot look after the existing footpaths and cycleways, so what chance will it have to maintain a boardwalk or track in a high rainfall run-off area? 

Watch this space. There'll be more washaways than the BMX track. 

Yes, I agree the Mount is a great scenic walk, but commonsense suggests either ban walkers entirely or enforce the law regularly. Spend the $2 million on local road repairs instead.

LAST week's council meeting was farcical.

In essence, a majority of councillors voted to spend $1.7 million on building “something” at the Mitre Street intersection: a roundabout, a few stop or give way signs or a set of traffic lights. 

Cr Monica Morse was brandishing a report from 1997, not the current 2017 report, telling ratepayers Dr Google indicates roundabouts are unsafe. Well, if that's the case, Cr Morse, why has council constructed so many throughout the city?  

Cr Warren Aubin appeared to be telling 5500 signatories they did not know what they were talking about requesting a roundabout – and does that mean our engineers don't either?

Councillors now appear to be concerned about cost, which seems a new sentiment. Look at the millions spent on the BMX track for only a small collection of members. 

So now the engineers’ department, after having previously recommended a roundabout on four occasions, gets to write another report. And what will happen if our engineers recommend a roundabout for the fifth time in 21 years?

I UNDERSTAND that council, following legal discussions with Virgin Australia, has agreed not to use the warm, fuzzy, spin doctor name of Velocity Park for the Mount Panorama Second Circuit motorsport precinct - other than in funding applications. 

History suggests we should have a naming competition for Bathurstians – just like we did when Bald Hill became Mount Panorama.

BATHURST Cycling Classic (the former B2B): a new name, perfect weather, but another great event.

CR Morse stating roundabouts are unsafe. So why has council built so many?