RESIDENTS opposed to a go kart track being built at the top of Mount Panorama are ramping up their campaign to pressure Bathurst Regional Council into finding a new location.
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Council has approved plans to build a $4.5 million go track in McPhillamy Park but the site has drawn vocal opposition.
A Facebook page, Save McPhillamy Park! No Karts on top of the Mount!, has attracted almost 600 members while an online petition urging council not to hand over the site "to a sporting club for their exclusive use" has close to 1200 signatures.
But time is running out for campaigners to force a change of thinking after councillors voted three weeks ago to direct $750,000 of the $1.25 million allocated to Bathurst under the federal government's COVID-19 Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund towards making a start on the track.
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Spokesperson Jan Page said opponents believed building a go kart track on McPhillamy Park was "contrary to the original gift of the land from the McPhillamy family to all the citizens of Bathurst".
"The land has been gazetted as public space for over 80 years and for the council to ignore this vital aspect clearly demonstrates that it must review its decision, and also be more open and transparent around the finances proposed for the development, " Ms Page said.
"McPhillamy Park is a rare special place for locals and visitors to look, play, exercise and picnic.
"We also respect the Aboriginal heritage associated with the location."
Ms Page said there was a growing awareness within the community that building a go kart track in McPhillamy Park would destroy the area for other users.
"The creation of a longer track than originally planned, the building of a two-storey control tower, as well as a paddock area and car parking, will alienate much of the public space on the top of the mount, and the noise associated with the go-karts will significantly reduce the enjoyment of the parkland," she said.
The lobby group also is arguing that acoustic studies to date have not measured the impact of go kart noise on the residents of South Bathurst and Robin Hill.
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"Council should also have exhibited the project for public comment, especially for the large amount of ratepayers' money to be spent, and this lack of consultation was a serious flaw in the council's decision making," Ms Page said.
"The group is arguing there are many alternative sites that should have been considered before desecrating the top of Mount Panorama."
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