Bathurst race fans will have another reason to stick around after the chequered flag falls this October, with a $185,000 NSW Government grant set to extend the city’s race week celebrations beyond Sunday.
The funding will allow Bathurst Regional Council to host a special CBD event on the Monday following the Repco Bathurst 1000, encouraging visitors to stay another night, enjoy more of Bathurst and make the trip home on Tuesday instead.
It’s a win for local businesses, a bonus for race fans – and an important initiative to help spread traffic movements following one of the biggest weekends on the Bathurst calendar.
With the Great Western Highway closure at Victoria Pass already impacting travel between the Central West and Sydney, encouraging even a portion of the thousands of racegoers to extend their stay could help reduce the traditional Monday exodus.
Council thanked the NSW Government for the funding, with special acknowledgement to Ministers Jenny Aitchison, Steve Kamper and Janelle Saffin for their support.
The new Monday event will build on Bathurst’s regular race week festivities, with further announcements about exactly what is planned still to come.
Transport for NSW will also have additional measures in place across the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend, including extra transport management crews, tow trucks and drones along key routes.
Enhanced network monitoring and a dedicated operational response will focus on keeping traffic moving as safely and efficiently as possible.
For race fans, though, the message might be much simpler: why rush home?
Stay another day, enjoy a little more of Bathurst, support the local businesses that throw out the welcome mat every race week – and tackle the trip home after the crowds have cleared.
Sounds like a pretty good Monday to me!
