IN late 2014, then Councillor Michael Coote accused Cr Jess Jennings of political grandstanding and having a hidden agenda within council after Cr Jennings moved notices of motion on coal seam gas and the Racial Discrimination Act - matters for state and federal governments respectively.
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Well, has anything changed? Cr Jennings seems to have a new idea every week and I wonder if the aim is to promote himself.
Cr Jennings has recently suggested pulling down the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and Civic Centre to build a new cultural centre; demanded more trees in Keppel Street; advocated toilet tourism; asked for free water for farmers; and called for better pedestrian access to Brock Skyline.
And now he's advocating solar panel roads.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher may have hit the nail on the head with this statement: "Socialism is great until you run out of spending other people's money.”
Maybe Cr Jennings should fund these big ideas from his own pocket.
Or maybe Cr Jennings has an eye on running against the Nationals’ Member for Bathurst Paul Toole in the upcoming state election?
The eyes have it: let’s do it once and let’s do it right
THIS Wednesday evening, Bathurst Regional councillors will make history in approving the successful design tender for the proposed Second Circuit on the western side of McPhillamy Park.
This circuit, once complete, will be the largest capital infrastructure project in the history of Bathurst as a local government area - and one of the largest of any regional council in NSW in recent times.
Hence the insistence of the Second Circuit Action Group (of which I'm a member) that council has one chance to get it right.
That is, an experienced track designer with runs on the board must be selected as the important first step in creating the new circuit’s own history, folklore and aura.
The eyes of the motorsport world (nationally and internationally) will be on Thursday's announcement, which will hopefully include a draft circuit layout.
This is a good news story for local, state and federal government investment that should be commended.
It is legacy infrastructure that will benefit our region for decades to come, future-proofing Bathurst as the motorsport capital within NSW (if not nationally as well).
The right bite for locals even in the winter cold
THOUGH the weather was cold on Saturday night, Bathurstians reinforced their support for the Winter Festival Brew and Bite night - which I'm sure the members of the hard-working council events team were very pleased to see.
I still think that if it can be done economically, lighting up other historic buildings throughout the CBD and homes of Bathurst would add to the festival.
Thumbs up
HISTORY being made with Bathurst Regional Council set to approve the Second Circuit design tender.
Thumbs down
VERY heavy frosts in recent days. If the atmosphere is so dry, how are they so heavy?
