What's News 20 February 2026
Published on 20 February 2026
Nightwork on the Mitchell Highway
Starting 8pm on Sunday 22 February, Transport for NSW is carrying out essential maintenance work on the Mitchell Highway west of Bathurst. They will be repairing the road pavement to create a more stable pavement for smoother, safer journeys.
Work will take place at night between 8pm and 5am from Sunday 22 February.
Work is expected to take five nights to complete, weather permitting.
For more information about this work, call 132 701, or visit https://www.livetraffic.com/incidentdetails/265301 or download the Live Traffic NSW app.
Rally of Bathurst – Temporary Road Closures
The public is advised that the following roads will be temporarily closed on Saturday 14 March 2026 for the 2026 Rally of Bathurst –
- Cashens Lane (7.30am – 2.30pm) - between approximately 2km past the Macquarie Woods turn off to just before Ophir Road
- Mount Horrible Road (1.30pm – 6.00pm) – between Dark Corner Road and Limekilns Road
For further information, please contact the Rally’s Clerk of Course, Mr Ron Moore, on 0438 610 611.
Bathurst Light Car Club – Temporary Road Closures
Part of Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit will be closed to traffic on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March 2026, between the hours of 7am and 5.30pm, to allow the Bathurst Light Car Club to conduct two rounds of the NSW State Hillclimb Championships.
Esses Hillclimb – Saturday 28 February 2026 – from the high side of Bathurst Goldfields’
gates on Conrod Straight up to and including McPhillamy Park gates on Skyline. Alternate
access to McPhillamy Park will be via Barry Gurdon Drive until 12 noon, thereafter via the
rear access road off College Road near the Waste Management Centre.
Any enquiries should be directed to the Bathurst Light Car Club’s Clerk of the Course, Mr
Robert Flood, on 0408 402 729.
Mountain Straight Hillclimb – Sunday 1 March 2026 – from the area known as Hell Corner
at the commencement of Mountain Straight to the eastern side of McPhillamy Park
entrance on Skyline. Alternate access to the top of Mount Panorama will be via Barry
Gurdon Drive.
Any enquiries should be directed to the Bathurst Light Car Club’s Clerk of the Course, Mr
David Robinson, on 0418 652 419.
Bathurst AutoFest – Temporary Road Closures
Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit will be closed between Murrays Corner and Hell Corner (Pit Straight) on Friday 6 March (3pm until 11pm), Saturday 7 March (7am until 11pm) and Sunday 8 March 2026 (7am until 6.30pm).
Alternative access will be via Conrod Straight, entering from Panorama Avenue, while access to Boundary Road, Hinton Road and Panorama Avenue will be via the access road through CSU paddock.
All enquiries regarding the event should be directed to Autofest Management on 0417 511 557.
BARC Donations
Do you have any bedding that you would like to donate to BARC?
Donations are always welcome to help our furry friends at the Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre. If you would like to make a donation of goods, please deliver them to the friendly team at BARC, 58 Hampden Park Road, Kelso.
Free Garden Compost Workshop
Come level up your garden skills whilst helping the planet in the easiest way possible. Less waste, more compost!
This workshop is an opportunity for both beginners and seasoned composters to learn, share, and take away all the tips you need to create 'garden gold' at home. This workshop will be facilitated by local waste experts from EnviroCom Australia, and will give you the knowledge and skills to level up your garden whilst reducing your household waste. A win for you, your garden, and the planet!
When: 10:30am Sunday 22 February
Where: Bathurst Library
For more information and to get your tickets https://www.eventbrite.com.au/.../brc-backyard-composting...?
BDSRC Sports Awards
To all affiliated sports associations/ clubs a reminder that the Annual Sports Awards close on 28 February so don’t miss out on putting your nominations in now. The dinner will be held in May.
ICAC Community Forum
ICAC is hosting a community forum in Bathurst on Thursday evening, 26 February. This is an opportunity for the Bathurst community to engage and discuss corruption and integrity issues in person and learn more about the role ICAC plays. Registration is required for community members looking to attend.
Date: Thursday 26 February 2026
Timing: 5:30pm-7:00pm
5:30 pm: Registration and refreshments
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Community forum
Location: The address will be provided on registration
Please RSVP by Wednesday 18 February.
For more information, visit the link here: https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/.../rural-and-regional...
Join us for Clean Up Australia Day!
Council is running a local community Clean Up at Macquarie River Bicentennial Park in celebration of Clean Up Australia Day, and we’d love for you to be part! It’s a simple, fun, and meaningful way to help care for our environment and meet other like-minded individuals.
When: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, Sunday 1 March 2026
Meeting point: Macquarie River Bicentennial Park (at the picnic shelter on Hereford Street side of the Bicentennial Flagstaff)
For event information, contact details and to RSVP- https://register.cleanup.org.au/.../macquarie-river...
Can’t make the Clean Up? You can host your own or join another Clean Up event, or why not make a zero waste pledge?
Heritage Advice in Trunkey Creek
Meet Council’s Heritage Advisor in Trunkey Creek.
- Seek practical advice to repair and conserve heritage buildings
- Regulatory rules around heritage explained
- Gain ideas for sharing Trunkey Creek’s history and heritage, and how Council can support your project
Drop in on Tuesday 10 March between 11am-1pm at the Trunkey Creek Community Hall.
NRL Ticket Sales
Tickets for Round 2 of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership between the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are on sale! Make sure you get in quick – Corporate Hospitality and Grandstand tickets have already sold out!
The game will take place Saturday 14 March, kicking off at Carrington Park at 7:30pm. For more details on the event week and to purchase tickets, head to: www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/Events/NRL
NSW Seniors Festival, 2 – 15 March 2026
NSW Seniors Festival celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to our local community. NSW Seniors Festival will run from 2-15 March 2026. Bathurst Seniors Festival will consist of 65 events, activities and workshops for seniors to enjoy across various locations. For more information, please visit Bathurst Regional Council’s website or call the Community Services Team on 6333 6523.
Tickets to the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail are on sale!
Tickets to the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail are now on sale. Watch blacksmiths forge iron, see saddlers at work, and discover trades that are disappearing from modern life.
Date: 11 – 12 April 2026
Venue: Bathurst Showgrounds
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.bathurstregion.com.au/bathurst-heritage.../
Waste 2 Art 2026
The 2026 Waste 2 Art competition is officially open for entries!
This year’s theme is ‘Shrink Your Footprint,’ focusing on the growing challenge of reducing humanity’s mass waste footprint. Reflecting this, every artwork this year is required to fit in a shoebox and must be made entirely out of recyclable or reused materials.
For all the details and to enter, visit Council’s website: https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/Services/Waste-Recycling/Waste-2-Art
Entries close 3pm Monday 27 April.
2026 CLUBGRANTS SCHEME (Category 1)
Bathurst Regional Council invites community organisations to apply for funding from the 2026 ClubGRANTS Scheme, under CATEGORY 1 criteria.
Applications close on Sunday 31 May 2026.
All applications are required to be completed by ClubGRANTS Online. No manual applications can be received.
Further information and a link to ClubGRANTS online can be accessed from Council’s website: www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au or the ClubsNSW website www.clubsnsw.com.au or by contacting the Cultural & Community Services team on 02 6333 6523.
Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer
P: 02 6333 6179 M: 0448 685 340 E: genevieve.green@bathurst.nsw.gov.au