WITH its spectacular panoramic views, McPhillamy Park, at the summit of Mount Panorama, is a unique and special place.
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Correctly named Walter J McPhillamy Park, the area draws locals and visitors alike to enjoy the views, exercise, walk the dog or picnic in the peaceful parkland setting.
It also encapsulates a number of Bathurst histories.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The park, together with the Mount Panorama Scenic Road, was officially opened on Thursday, March 17, 1938 and named in honour of Walter McPhillamy, who had given 15 acres of land for the purpose.
McPhillamy, of Orton Park, was a prominent local citizen who served many years on both Bathurst and Abercrombie Shire councils, serving as Bathurst mayor on five occasions.
He was passionate about the progress of Bathurst and served on many other organisations.
On numerous occasions he contributed personal funds to beautification projects.
Following Walter McPhillamy's death on June 21, 1938, his widow gave an additional 10 acres to expand the parkland to 25 acres (10.11 hectares).
Last week I visited McPhillamy Park and was appalled by the neglected appearance of the area: the battered fencing; the lack of clear and attractive access points to viewing areas; the broken viewing platform from which the brass directional plate has been missing for years; the overgrown paths and damaged roadways; the access to the southern viewing area fenced off.
In most communities fortunate enough to have a vantage point with views, great pride is shown in the presentation and promotion of the area.
Clearly this is not the case in Bathurst where McPhillamy Park, with its incredible panoramic views over Bathurst and surrounding district, should be a jewel in Bathurst's crown.
I emailed these concerns to all councillors together with a request for documentation regarding management of the area.
The majority of councillors did not respond and no documentation was forthcoming.
As a result, I decided to search for the relevant information and was again horrified by what I found: information that all Bathurst ratepayers should, but probably don't, know.
1. Despite the significance of this area there is no conservation management plan.
2. In council's documentation, the park is classified as a tourist area with no acknowledgement of its importance to the local community.
3. The "Tourist" zoning has a list of uses of the area that are permitted with consent: cellar door sales; food and drink premises; kiosks; light industries; markets; neighbourhood shops; plant nurseries; roadside stalls; tourist and visitor accommodation; any other development not specified in item 2 (Permitted without consent: environmental protection works; extensive agriculture; intensive plant agriculture; roads) or item 4 (prohibited activities).
4. "Any other development" includes those that relate to the Objectives for the zone, including: the promotion of "the development of Mount Panorama as a regional recreation and tourist facility and as an international motor racing circuit", and, any development "that is complementary to or for the purpose of motor racing and associated activities, sports or recreation".
5. The fenced off area on the southern side of the park is the location of an approved 1.1km go-kart track and associated infrastructure. This development site occupies 4.35 hectares of McPhillamy Park.
6. The go-kart facility was approved by council without any public consultation because it was seen as a complying application. Documentation states that "the development does not require public consultation".
This interpretation of McPhillamy Park is not the expectation of the Bathurst community which believes that this is a public area for all to enjoy, as has been the case since 1938.
It is time that council explained why it is so important for a go-kart facility to be located in this public space, the process that has excluded Bathurst ratepayers and the reason why some of the vast amounts of money spent on racing at the Mount isn't spent on developing a beautiful and unique space for all locals and visitors to enjoy.