THE week before last, I decided to go for a walk around Mount Panorama.
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It was a pleasantly warm autumn day, and many others were out doing the same thing, all keeping social distance of course. Some ran, some wore the latest active wear, others wandered slowly in flannel shirt and jeans (yours truly).
Up at the top of the mountain there's little in the way of a shoulder to walk along. You just hope drivers have seen you, because you're relying on them to give you a space as they come around the bend.
Fortunately, Bathurst Reigonal Council's new walkway is nearing completion. This takes pedestrians off the road, keeping everyone safe. Once it's finished, it will be a pleasant walk all the way round, complete with excellent views.
Unfortunately, there's another development that threatens quiet enjoyment of a walk around Mount Panorama, and that is the go-kart track that has been approved for the top of the mountain.
While thrilling for riders and spectators, the little vehicles are very noisy, in full flight sounding like a swarm of mosquitoes. This development will operate seven days a week.
... this will operate seven days a week.
- Go-kart track
Currently, McPhillamy Park and the top of the mountain are relatively undeveloped areas that are available for quiet enjoyment of a range of activities: dog walking, exercise, bird-watching, Wiradyuri cultural business, enjoyment of the view, parking the car to eat fish and chips, or whatever you might want to do.
Yes, there's a motorbike club up there and, yes, during race weekends it's teeming and noisy.
But these activities are not happening all the time, as would be the case with the go-kart track.
In effect, an area that has been available for diverse users for diverse activities is being developed and handed over for the exclusive enjoyment of one particular section of the community. This just does not seem fair.
Those of us opposing this development are not opposing the idea of a go-kart track in town; we are just saying that the top of our famous mountain should be kept as public open space.
The second race track and technology complex being planned for the other side of the mountain, out of acoustic range of residents and away from McPhillamy Park, would clearly be a better spot to put the go-karts.
Tracy Sorensen is a member of Bathurst Community Climate Action Network.
