What's News 17 October
Published on 17 October 2025
Temporary Road Closure 2025 Mount Panorama Punish
The Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit will be temporarily closed to traffic on Sunday 26 October from 7.45am until 9.30am, to conduct the Mount Panorama Punish. Alternative traffic conditions will be in place via Barry Gurdon Drive for persons wishing to gain access to the top of the Mount. Resident access will be available during the closure. All enquiries regarding the Event should be directed to Bathurst Regional Council on 6333 6111.
Bathurst Rural Strategy Open for Community Input
Over the coming months, Council is preparing a Rural Strategy to guide the management of our rural areas into the future. Council wants to hear your thoughts on what matters most and how we can balance growth, lifestyle, and protection of the land we value. Have your say via this link: https://yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/rural-strategy
The closing date for survey submissions and commentary is 28 November 2025.
New to Bathurst? Let us shout you lunch!
Come along for a free lunch and the chance to meet other newcomers, make new friends, and connect with local community groups.
-Morse Park, next to the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre
Upcoming Road Works – Prince Street, Perthville
Drainage and road construction works in Prince Street between Church and Rockley Streets are scheduled to commence Monday 20 October 2025.
These works are part of a broader infrastructure improvement project and will involve installation of new drainage pipes and preparation for kerb and road reconstruction. Council’s Urban Works team will be on site with traffic control measures in place.
Full Road Closure – Week Commencing 27 October 2025
Please note that a full road closure will be required approximately one week after works start to facilitate further construction activities. Council is working closely with local bus companies and the school to ensure they are informed and can plan accordingly. Immediate residents will still be permitted access and are requested to follow traffic control guidance as directed. Detours will be clearly signposted.
All affected residents have been notified directly regarding the scope of the works. Updates will also be provided via Council’s social media channels.
Roadworks | O’Connell Road
Council is carrying out essential repair work on behalf of Transport for NSW on a 300-metre section of O’Connell Road, between Bathurst and Oberon. Works will be carried out Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm from Tuesday 14 October. Works are expected to take three weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Work will include removing, reshaping and reinforcing the existing embankments to repair slope failures, as well as replacing barrier guard rails along the roadside.
Partial Road Closure | Hamilton Street Eglinton
As part of Council’s Resurfacing Program 2025/26, our bitumen crews are intending to carry out work on Hamilton St, Eglinton. Starting Monday 13 October 2025, the work is set to take approximately 3-4 weeks, weather permitting.
While this work is underway, the road will be under traffic control daily from 6:30am to 3:30pm. Motorists are requested to abide by the changed traffic conditions and the directive of traffic controllers. Expect some short delays, and detours may be in place as well. If you have any queries regarding this matter, feel free to contact Council’s Department of Engineering Services (02) 6333 6100.
Join Bathurst Library and WIN!
In October, join Bathurst Library + borrow 5 books in one visit and go in the draw to win newly released, award-winning books. There are two book packs available.
Each new member is automatically a winner, with their library card providing:
• Free access to online newspapers and magazines
• Free eBooks and eAudiobooks
• Free access to books and DVDs
What’s On: Bathurst Library
Join Central West based author Jessica Mansour - Nahra for a conversation on her debut novel, The Farm, a gripping psychological thriller with a familiar rural feel!
When: Friday 17 October 2025 at 6pm
Cost: FREE Bookings essential via 6333 6281
About the book: When Leila suffers a health tragedy, she doesn’t recover as quickly as she expected. Her partner, James, suggests a year away from the city - they’ll stay on his family farm, where the wide, open spaces and clean country air will help her come to terms with her grief. But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.. Is what she’s experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
Changes to Blue Mountains Line train timetable
Effective from Sunday 19 October 2025, changes to the Blue Mountains Line train timetable will be in place, as part of a regular review of train services across the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink networks.
As a snapshot, for the Blue Mountains Line, four weekday services on Wednesdays and the weekday service from Lithgow to Bathurst will be adjusted to improve consistency across the week. These changes will improve service consistency across the week.
For the most up to date travel information, passengers are encouraged to visit https://transportnsw.info, check travel apps, or refer to platform screens and station announcements.
On 29 August 2025, the Office of Local Government via Circular 25-20 released an updated Model Code of Meeting Practice. The circular noted that the Model Code must adopt a Code of Meeting Practice that incorporates the mandatory provisions of the 2025 Model Meeting Code by 31 December 2025.
Among other changes, the mandatory provisions of the 2025 Model Meeting Code will prohibit pre-meeting briefings. Councils must also livestream meetings of the council and committees comprising wholly of councillors from 1 January 2026 using an audio-visual recording. Recordings of meetings must be published on the council’s website for the balance of the council term or for 12 months, whichever is the later date.
More detailed information about the changes to council meeting practices made by the 2025 Model Meeting Code is provided in the FAQ document provided in the document library. All 31 submissions already received will be considered in conjunction with any new submissions received during this exhibition period.
Submissions Open for Australia Day Awards 2026
Nominations are open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards. This includes Bathurst’s Citizen of the Year, our Living Legends, the Youth Arts Awards, and a new award for 2026, the Youth Community Service Award. Nominations for these awards will close Friday 7 November 2025.
The Event of the Year award is also open for nominations. There are three categories to be awarded, including Destination Event of the Year, Community Event of the Year, as well as the most outstanding New Event of the Year. Nominations for these awards can be made up until Friday 9 January 2026.
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Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer