MEDIA RELEASE 28 August 2026

What’s News

Kaleidoscope Festival – Request for Vendors

 Bathurst has been successful in receiving funding from Multicultural NSW which will be used to deliver a new event for Bathurst ‘The Kaleidoscope Festival,’ to be held 7 November at Victoria Park.

 To bring the event to life, Council is seeking a vibrant mix of food vendors, market stalls, performers and workshop facilitators that reflect the many cultures represented in our community.

 To get involved visit https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/…/Events…/Be-Involved or email events@bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Public Consultation on Bathurst Flood Study Update – Submission Deadline Extended

 Council, with the support of the NSW Government, is currently undertaking a Flood Study Update for the Macquarie Wambuul River floodplain in the Bathurst area.

 Council invites written submissions in relation to the draft Bathurst flood study update. Any submission needs to be lodged with Council by 4pm on Friday 11 September 2026 and must include your name and address. Council appreciates that there is extensive information for residents to read and understand as part of this project, reasoning for the fortnight deadline extension.

 Any submission that you make may be included without alteration (including names and addresses) in reports that are available to the public in Council business papers. 

 Written submissions can be lodged through Council’s YourSay page.

https://yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/bathurst-flood-study…

Book in for ChemClear’s Agricultural Chemical Collection 

 Farmers and agricultural businesses across the region now have the opportunity to safely clear out unwanted or expired agricultural and veterinary chemicals through the upcoming ChemClear collection. By taking part, you’ll help protect your property, our community and the environment while supporting a cleaner, safer future for agriculture.

 To participate in the upcoming collection, it is essential to register your chemicals with ChemClear by this Monday 31 August. 

 Follow the below guide for quick and straightforward registration and visit https://www.agsafe.org.au/cc-register-chemicals to get started.

Bookings open for ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Father’s Day’ Replica Race Car Laps

 The National Motor Racing Museum’s popular Father’s Day event on Mount Panorama will this year be held one week later to accommodate on-track activity the weekend of Father’s Day.

 Dubbed the ‘I can’t Believe It’s Not Father’s Day’ event and taking place Sunday 13 September, attendees can look forward to all the usual activities, including free entry for dads and father figures to the museum, passenger laps in the museum’s replica cars and a look at an all-new special exhibition celebrating the incredible career of the King of the Mountain, Peter Brock.

 Bookings for a replica race car lap have officially opened! Prices start from $15.00 per seat per lap. To book, contact the museum on 6332 1872 to secure your spot on The Mount.

Disability Inclusion Action Plan Forum

 Are you an organisation that provides support for people living with a disability in Bathurst? We want to hear from you. 

 Council is hosting a forum for local service providers to have their say on how we can best support the community as we develop the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2027-2031. The forum will be held at 12noon until 1:30pm on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at the National Motor Racing Museum. At this forum, we will share what we have heard from the community and seek your input as we plan our next steps in developing our next Disability Inclusion Action Plan. 

 Your feedback will help shape Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2027-2031. 

Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements. If you need further help, additional assistance is available through the Voice Relay: 1300 555 727 or the TTY (Teletypewriter): 133 677.

 To register your attendance or to get more information, contact the Community Services Team by calling 02 6333 6523 or email council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Australia Day Awards | Nominations now open

 Nominations are now open for the 2027 Australia Day Awards. Categories include Youth Arts, Youth Service, and Event of the Year, covering Destination Event, Community Event, and Most Outstanding New Event.

 Applications for Living Legends & Citizen of the Year will open this Monday 31 August.

 Living Legends, Citizen of the Year, Youth Arts and Youth Service nominations close Friday 6 November 2026. Event of the Year nominations close Friday 8 January 2027.

 Apply at yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au.

Have your Say | Draft Active Transport Strategy 

 The draft Bathurst Region Active Transport Strategy (BRATS) is on public exhibition and Council wants to hear from the community.

 The Strategy will guide actions for planning and building our active transport network, footpaths, shared paths, cycleways and associated infrastructure.

 BRATS has also recommends Council start a speed limit review in the CBD so the exhibition also includes a draft Bathurst Urban Road Network Plan which looks at future 30km/hour speed limits in the Bathurst CBD. 

 To find out more and to have your say visit https://yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/active-transport… Feedback must be submitted by 21 September 2026.

Water Main Replacement Works – Bradwardine Road

 Water main replacement works on Bradwardine Road, between Suttor Street and the Mitchell Highway, commenced on Tuesday 4 August and are expected to take 5 to 6 weeks to complete, subject to weather conditions. The works will involve the excavation, trenching and installation of a new 375mm cast iron water main along the western side of Bradwardine Road.

 Construction activities will generally be undertaken between 7am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. No weekend works are currently anticipated, however, they may be required should unforeseen circumstances arise. Traffic control will be in place throughout the works, and motorists are requested to obey all signage and directions from traffic controllers and drive to the changed road conditions. For further information, please contact Council’s Engineering Department during business hours on (02) 6333 6100.

Grant Writing Workshop

 Want to boost your chances of grant success? Council’s Economic Development team is hosting a FREE Grant Writing Workshop for local businesses, community groups and individuals. Gain practical tips to strengthen your applications and feel more confident navigating the grant process.

 -Wednesday 16 September 2026

-3:00pm to 5:00pm

-Skyline Room, Bathurst Panthers, 132 Piper Street, Bathurst

 FREE! Register here: https://bathurstliveinvest.com.au/…/grant-writing…/

Have Your Say – Safer Cities Project

 Council is seeking community involvement as part of the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to improve perceptions of safety and accessibility for women, girls and gender-diverse people in the Bathurst CBD. 

 Following our successful grant approval from the NSW Government’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program, we are starting engagement through our Gender-Inclusive Safety Research and Trial Program. The first stage of engagement is an interactive YourSay survey, allowing for pins to be dropped on a map of the CBD to identify areas of concern and share ideas for improvements. This will deepen our understanding of how women, girls and gender-diverse people perceive and experience safety in the CBD, informing future planning and public space investment. 

 To have your say, head to Council’s YourSay site: https://yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/safer-cities 

 More ways to be involved will be announced soon. Keep an eye out for upcoming day and night-time ‘walkshops’, pop-up trials and co-design workshop opportunities.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program.

 ENDS

 Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer  

P: 02 6333 6179 M: 0448 685 340 E: genevieve.green@bathurst.nsw.gov.au