BATHURST Regional Council has voted to allow a go-kart track to be constructed on Mount Panorama – and the creators of the proposal have been told to waste no time.
“Bring it on and get it going up there,” deputy mayor Ian North said at last week’s meeting of council.
Bathurst Kart Club wants to build the new track in McPhillamy Park on Brock’s Skyline.
It will end the club’s search for a location for the facility after its attempt to have the track built at the former Alec Lamberton soccer field at Kelso hit a brick wall because of noise complaints.
The development has been described by councillors as a great attraction and a much-needed addition to the Mount, though a raft of conditions have been included to reduce the impact on nearby residents.
Cr Bobby Bourke said the Bathurst Kart Club had done a lot of work getting the development proposal to council.
He said he was positive that it would be good for the racing heritage of Mount Panorama.
Cr Warren Aubin agreed that the go-kart track was a much-needed addition to the precinct.
He asked if anyone had talked to Orange mayor John Davis about how the noise from a neighbouring go-kart track affected him.
“He lives 600 metres from the track and says he doesn’t hear a thing,” Cr Aubin said.
Cr Jess Jennings said he wanted to see the track reach an international length and standard.
The club originally proposed a 950m track, however, council favours a 1000m track that would attract a higher level of competition.
Council was assured by the group that there were options available to change the layout in order to add an extra 50m.
Cr Monica Morse said she was initially “a bit iffy” about the proposal, but after meeting club members and learning that children start taking part when they are as young as seven, learning discipline and road rules, she changed her position.
“If we can train young drivers, from that point of view it is a wonderful facility,” she said.
Cr Ian North said the view alone would make the proposed track one of the best in the world.
“Bring it on and get it going up there,” he said.
“Let’s make sure they do it and do it well.”
The facility will include the track, a pit lane, car park and paddock area.
Other things to be considered were outdoor lighting, landscaping and greening, parking, crime prevention, urban design, heritage conservation, and noise.
Council has imposed conditions that 18 individual race days are permitted each calendar year and the number of go-karts on the track at any one time must not exceed five on a practice day and 32 on a race day.
The track must not be in operation during full track closure for motor racing events at the Mount.
