The ceremony was slated for the evening of January 25, coming as a surprise to a number of councillors who were under the impression it would be held on its usual day. 

Deputy mayor Bobby Bourke, along with councillors Alex Christian and Ian North, came out on Monday criticising the decision and calling for the date to be changed. 

Cr Bourke was so angry that he had planned an extraordinary meeting of council for Thursday, knowing he had the numbers to get the decision overturned. 

However, after meeting with the mayor and other councillors on Tuesday, a compromise was made.

The citizenship ceremony will be held at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) at 10am on Australia Day, while the other awards Bathurst Regional Council hands out will still be presented the night before at the same venue.

“It was a good outcome. It took a lot of persuading from the councillors, but the mayor did listen,” Cr Bourke said. 

He said council was now in the process of contacting all the new citizens to inform them that the ceremony would be held on Australia Day.