Councillor Jess Jennings proposes a SkyBar at top of Mount Panorama

In the wake of the go-kart track project being abandoned on top of the Mount, he has suggested Bathurst Regional Council instead make use of existing infrastructure to increase the appeal and amenity of the area for everyone.

"Council must turn a positive corner on McPhillamy Park and make the top of Mount Panorama-Wahluu a prized park for the people of Bathurst, just as Mr and Mrs McPhillamy intended all those years ago," Cr Jennings said.

"We have to get past the recent karts turmoil by showing it some love with a masterplan and making it a brilliant active park for the people of Bathurst, without losing any of its cultural or natural heritage from all perspectives.

"A quick and easy win would be to retrofit the radio tower at Brock's Skyline to become a 'SkyBar' that served food and drink from sunrise to sunset."

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The tower is still in commission, but only used a handful of times a year.

Cr Jennings said the SkyBar concept would allow the building to be used more often, while increasing the amenity of the McPhillamy Park precinct and creating another source of income for council.

He said there was already support for the idea.

"The building is a bit old and oddly shaped, but in fair condition and perfect for a pop-up style eatery to kickstart some life into the place," he said.

"I've spoken to several café and restaurant entrepreneurs, and they love the idea because they know it's a winning spot that could service a wide range of customers from dawn to dusk."

However, a challenging project like a SkyBar would only be possible with some outside-the-box thinking.

"Interestingly, council commissioned a report into better uses of Mount Panorama - Wahluu back in 2003 and not surprisingly the radio tower and other options were proposed as a way to breathe more life into the site," he said.

"The radio tower could and should become a great community asset with a very quick turnaround if council wanted it to be, and the lease would bring in income for council to upgrade the area over time."

Cr Jennings has been pushing for a masterplan for the top of Mount Panorama for months but his motion at council's July ordinary meeting, which included the masterplan and conservation management plan idea, was lost in a five-four vote.

Mayor Ian North and councillors Warren Aubin, Bobby Bourke, Alex Christian and Graeme Hanger were reluctant to support the motion due to a number of unresolved matters related to McPhillamy Park.

They included the fact that the land previously earmarked for a go-kart track is under lease by the Bathurst Kart Club; conjecture over the exact location of the 10 acres gifted by the McPhillamy family; and the classification of land and ramifications of that classification.

The conservation management plan was estimated to come at a cost of between $200,000 and $400,000.

Cr Jennings said he would, if re-elected, would attempt to pursue the idea under a new council.

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