The recent debate over Mount Panorama-Wahluu and claims of a heritage application by the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation (WTOCWAC) has highlighted flaws in the current law and heritage recognition system.
Conflicting reports have emerged, with some media outlets suggesting that WTOCWAC is seeking to place a heritage order on the summit of the mountain, potentially threatening the Bathurst 1000.
However, WTOCWAC itself has firmly denied this, stating that it has “no current applications for heritage listings of any sort for any area at all.”. The statement also states that “WTOCWAC has always maintained that Wiradyuri culture and motor racing can respectfully coexist at Wahluu”.
Whilst these statements are correct, the current Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System, leaves a loophole for future claims once a site card is validated, according to Toni-Lee Scott of the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council
This contradiction needs resolution, and the public deserves access to the full facts.
Bathurst Regional Council’s General Manager, David Sherley, expressed surprise at reports of a heritage listing application, noting that the Council had not been consulted. Meanwhile, the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (BLALC) has raised concerns about a lack of engagement from WTOCWAC.
The ongoing issue highlights that there needs to be a review of the legislation to give clear guidance on who has authority in situations like this, the Bathurst Aboriginal Land Council has legislative authority, however other groups can currently make claims in the region, seemingly without any consultation. Reforms are clearly needed, a position that incumbent member Andrew Gee MP supports and other candidates agree on.
What is clear is that Mount Panorama holds deep significance for both the Wiradyuri people and the broader community. There is no evidence that the Bathurst 1000 is under threat, yet certain media outlets have used this issue to create unnecessary panic.
This region already faces many real challenges—economic transition, housing pressures, infrastructure demands and cost of living challenges. In an ideal situation there should be collaboration between groups who pertain to have similar interests, and clear authority needs to be identified.
In the lead up to an election, we will do our best to maintain a focus on factual reporting rather than fanning flames of division. The people of Bathurst and the Central West deserve transparency on this issue enabling them to be informed when they finally head to the polls, for an election yet to be declared, in the hopefully not too distant future..
