I NOTE from a recent article that Bathurst Regional Council is still seeking more funding for a second circuit at Mount Panorama.
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I have not seen a full business case to justify this expenditure of public money - $52 million.
We know a design has been commissioned without full funding being available and final capital cost to the public remains unknown.
I question our priorities for an inland city like Bathurst.We have a couple of key issues which need urgent attention for the good of all citizens: water security and the hospital.
We have a water security crisis here and now. Based on council's recently published graph of Chifley Dam water levels, without a return to natural rainfall, the dam could run dry by August 2020.
There are variables to this date based on retained sludge levels, which are unknown.
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We know 97.4 per cent of NSW is in doubt. Fourteen inland towns and cities are in severe crisis for water. This drought is worse than the Federation drought. We do not know if this lack of rainfall is the new normal.
Some ideas floated are not a quick fix or possible, based on time and major capital cost.
For example, raising the Chifley Dam wall requires an expensive upgrade to the spillway and pressurising the line from Winburndale would be time-consuming and costly.
Bathurst Regional Council now needs a complete strategic plan on water covering all aspects of this crisis and a plan for years ahead.
What is plan B to cover here and now?
Let us remember that when water restrictions were introduced last November, four councillors played the popular card and voted against them.
The second issue for Bathurst is the level of health care provided by the local hospital.
We know of many cases reported in the Western Advocate recently of patients having a poor experience.
One councillor highlighted his experience. From this, a public forum has been held. We know Orange has a greater variety of health care due to sufficient funding and direction.
Bathurst needs and should have the same level of care as Orange.
Again, the dispute comes down to the level of funding and, in particular, staffing levels.
In summary, at the recent state election, the premier said NSW can have it all. Not true. Fifty billion of our public assets have been sold off, with more of our assets in the pipeline to be sold.
They believe in privatisation and the free market totally. So let the free market principle apply to the second track and see if private enterprise will risk their capital.
I think I know the answer.
Motorsport in Australia is heavily subsidised as a permanent sinkhole of public money.
Our priority surely has to be our water security and a first grade hospital available to our citizens by the prudent use of public money.
The second track has already received extensive public money from federal, state and council.
Don't believe the mantra from the spin doctors about jobs.
Am I the only person who thinks like this?
The people of Bathurst's needs must take priority over a racetrack by the wise use of their funds.
