ALONG with many other Bathurst residents, I am opposed to the siting of a go-kart track on Mount Panorama/Wahluu.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Most people have no objection per se to the idea of a professional go-kart track, but the choice of location and the financial cost to the community are sticking points for many.
My objections are shared by others, and include the taking over of almost half of the public parkland gifted to the people of Bathurst by former mayor, Walter McPhillamy, and added to by his widow, for use by a small special-interest group.
READ ALSO:
What is even more disturbing at a time of growing awareness of indigenous culture and rights is the disregard for what has been deemed by council to be intangible cultural heritage values, which four out of seven councillors are choosing not to respect.
Last week I had a conversation with David Sherley, where, among other things, I asked him about the level of community consultation and when and how McPhillamy Park came to be designated a tourist area - a decision which obviously allows council freer scope to determine use of the land and apparently reduces the need for widespread community consultation.
The application for a federal grant to go towards the building of what will amount to a private facility for use by a small number of professional drivers and for occasional larger-scale events does not appear to meet the criteria for what council is claiming is a piece of community infrastructure.
Supporting councillors have nominated the project to receive $750,000 of the expected $1.25 million from the Federal Government's Roads and Infrastructure Fund.
That is 60 per cent of funding for the entire Bathurst region going to a project which cannot with honesty be said to be community infrastructure.
Has consideration been given to the suggestion that the track could be within the precinct of the second circuit, with shared infrastructure?
An application for funding to develop McPhillamy Park into the appealing beauty spot it should be, where our history is acknowledged, would produce far more beneficial long-term effects for Bathurst locals and become a drawcard for tourists.
Please rethink and leave a legacy for the people of Bathurst which will do you credit.