A GROWING campaign opposed to building a go-kart track at the top of Mount Panorama has harnessed the power of social media to quickly spread the word.
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An online petition calling on Bathurst Regional Council to find a new site for the track has now attracted more than 7000 signatures, with the number doubling in just 24 hours after former Bathurst musician Gabbi Bolt posted her own protest message on TikTok.
In the message, delivered as a rap, Ms Bolt says, "They've [council] been ignoring the protesting and the plight of the community and seem happy to keep spurring on the flame of gross disunity" before urging her Australian followers to sign the petition.
And the tactic has been a success. By Wednesday the petition, created two years ago by Susan Douglas, had attracted 3000 signatures; by lunchtime Friday, less than 24 hours after Ms Bolt had posted her TikTok, the number had passed 7000.
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Ms Douglas said the announcement that work on the go-track would start on March 8 had also increased interest in the petition and added greater urgency to the campaign opposed to it being built in McPhillamy Park.
"That announcement highlighted the urgency of the situation and the message seems to finally be getting out to the community," Ms Douglas said.
"... I think the strong turnout at the recent protest rally and the growth in signatures is signalling that the community is fed up with not having a voice on this issue. They are sick and tired of being ignored.
"People are angry about the loss of public open space, the desecration of a highly significant Aboriginal site and the reckless use of public money at a time when we are struggling to find money for critical infrastructure."
Friends of McPhillamy Park spokesperson Jan Page said it was up to council to find a new site for the track.
"Council led the go-kart club to the site on top of Wahluu/Mount Panorama; council needs to find a solution that works for the whole community, not just a small members only group of karters," Ms Page said.
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