BATHURST Regional Council is expected to approve a modification to plans for a go-kart track, which means the facility would be built at the contentious location on top of Mount Panorama.
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Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday night where councillors will have the opportunity to discuss a report from the director of Environmental Planning and Building Services, Neil Southorn.
His report, which comes with a long list of recommendations, ultimately supports the modifications to the original development application.
While councillors are not obligated to vote in favour of the recommendation, it is uncommon for the majority of them to ignore the advice of council staff.
The modification proposal involves a number of elements, including extending the length of the track, relocating the pit complex and using parts of McPhillamy and Sulman parks for car parking and staging.
Existing structures within the footprint of the proposal will be demolished, however this does not include the building referred to as the ‘blue stone cottage’.
The modification proposal was lodged in June 2016, however a decision was delayed due to request for more information regarding noise, biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage issues.
Earlier this month, council held a discussion forum to source more feedback on the proposal.
While discussion should have been about the modifications and not the location, which was approved in September 2015, it was clear that the chosen site was still a sore subject.
Members of the Wiradyuri community spoke at the forum, each stressing they didn’t object to building a go-kart track, however they couldn’t support one on top of the Mount.
They said the site held great significance and had to be preserved as so many sacred places had already been lost.
“I understand you going on about the race track, having the vision back in 1938, and look what it’s done,” elder Dinawan Dyirribang said. “But a lot of it has been at the expense of our culture, too.”
Construction can commence after the approval of the modified DA, however if any Aboriginal archaeological material is discovered, all work in that area will need to cease immediately and not recommence until authorised by the Office of Environment and Heritage.
