The minister's decision also recognises how many people in Bathurst cherish Mount Panorama/Wahluyu as a special place in our community with a rich Wiradyuri and European heritage.

The proposal to build a go-kart track was trampling Aboriginal cultural heritage but was also causing deep and unnecessary dissension in the community.

So many in the community value McPhillamy Park as a special place and didn't want Bathurst Regional Council to make it a place of argument. The whole community can now start searching for the solution which was always there - to find a new site on uncontested land.

We need a new council to lead us together to a new 'place' in our community.

The Friends of McPhillamy Park will continue to fight to protect this public open space from those who want to give it to private interests.

We want to work with council to protect all of McPhillamy Park that was gifted to the people for public open space - and also the heritage it holds for the people, forever.

It is a special place for so many, so let's protect it forever and for all the people who value it, for whatever reason.

So hopefully now Minister Ley's decision will mean that councillors will stop their stubbornness and fulfil their responsibility to build a simple track with the go-kart club without creating argument and distress in the community.

Iain McPherson, Bathurst