COUNCILLOR John Fry not only wants the go-kart track off the agenda for the next 12 months, but is still campaigning for it to be built in a different location.
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The go-kart track has become a hot topic again after it was raised during a brief budget discussion at last week's extraordinary meeting of Bathurst Regional Council.
The $4.45 million project was not included in council's budget for the 2020-21 financial year, but deputy mayor Ian North requested that it be considered during the public exhibition period.
He later explained to the Western Advocate that he wasn't looking for council to fully fund the go-kart track itself in 2020-21, but rather that council look for potential grants that could progress the project.
Cr Fry said he was disappointed in the procedure of the last meeting, feeling councillors didn't have the opportunity to properly discuss Cr North's proposal.
"When the mayor asked for comments, we didn't know whether we were addressing the motion or the amendment, so there wasn't any debate at all, and then the mayor put it to the vote and said 'vote carried'," Cr Fry said, adding that he didn't think there was a formal vote count.
While he does support building a go-kart track in Bathurst, Cr Fry said the project can't be economically justified in 2020-21 when the budget is so tight and other key infrastructure projects have had to be overlooked.
"It just needs to be rolled over because we've got higher priorities," he said.
On top of that, he wants to see the track join the second circuit precinct, instead of it being built at the top of Mount Panorama.
He said other councillors share his view, as does Apex Circuit Design, the company designing the second circuit.
"[The second circuit] is a whole motor complex, it's not just a racing and motor bike track, so the go-kart track logically should go with that," Cr Fry said.
"... I've talked to Apex track designers and they said that lots of tracks around the world now have a go-kart track because it's a good income earner on the side of a race track."
To date, project design for the go-kart track is complete, with development consent and construction certificate approval provided.
Development consent has been acted upon, with substantial commencement demonstrated meaning that the consent will not lapse, and the tender documentation has been prepared.
Despite the work that has been done, Cr Fry said it's not too late to move the track.
"It's not that much work, it's just a DA, and a lot of that information can be moved across, all that design work," he said.
"It's not a big deal to move it across at this stage and the approvals can be transferred down to the other site.
"At the other site, the cultural studies, the geology, the environmental impact statement, all that's been prepared for the race track, so there's very little extra costs involved in putting the go-kart track down there."
Cr Fry said not putting the go-kart track in the budget would give council a year to further discuss the location.
The draft budget is currently on public exhibition, with council accepting submissions from members of the public until June 4.
Feedback can be given via the YourSay Bathurst website.
