FORECAST rain across the next few days will provide Bathurst's multi-million dollar BMX track with one of its sternest tests so far.
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The track has already been washed away once by heavy rain but Bathurst Regional Council does not expect to see that happen again.
The track's surface has been extensively upgraded in preparation for this weekend's round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup that will bring some of the world's best riders to our city.
And, being an Olympic year, the event will also be an important warm-up for competitors with an eye on Tokyo.
Coming just a week after the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, the UCI BMX Supercross meet will again give Bathurst the chance to showcase itself on the world stage.
Further, it was just a few weeks ago that Sir Elton John, one of the biggest names in the world of entertainment, performed in our city and next month it will be the turn of some of the world's best skaters when Newton's Nation returns to Mount Panorama.
It would be a dream come true for most regional centres to be given the one-off opportunity to host a single event of such calibre.
But for Bathurst to play host to four truly world-class events in the space of just a couple of months sets our city on a pedestal that must make us the envy of all others.
It has not happened by accident, though. These events are the result of very deliberate council policy of pursuing big events and building the high quality infrastructure needed to host them.
When council first bid to for the rights to host Australia's national BMX titles in 2016 our city did not even have a track; only after winning the rights did council set about building the facility that will host this weekend's World Cup titles.
It was an extraordinary vote of confidence in Bathurst by Australia's BMX hierarchy, and an extraordinary show of bravado by the council of the day.
Now, however, the gamble is paying real dividends with the whole community among the winners as new people - and new money - have been brought to town.
By growing the visitor economy, council has helped grow the broader economy, and that has benefited every sector.
It's an example that every regional centre should be following, even if very few of them could possibly hope to deliver such remarkable outcomes.