![\"Bathurst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IGTC126_021112493102020JB_JB.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA signing pointing to Mount Panorama.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA signing pointing to Mount Panorama.<\/p>\n
Upgrades to the circuit, headlined by safety improvements, were part of a proposal to the government estimated to cost at least $70 million and potentially upwards of $130 million.<\/a><\/p>\n Councillors came up with a laundry list of items, with a reseal of the 6.2 km circuit chief among the priorities.<\/p>\n Other safety improvements on the agenda included installing fauna fencing to reduce the risk of animal track invasions, as well as the installation of electronic flag signals.<\/p>\n The council had hoped to receive some support in this year\u2019s budget, but got nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt definitely needs an upgrade,\u201d said Bathurst Mayor Robert \u2018Stumpy\u2019 Taylor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needs a safety issue with the lighting, complete resurface of the mountain, and the tunnel, and some tyre walling.\u201d<\/p>\n Bathurst Regional Council has lobbied Supercars and the sport\u2019s governing body Motorsport Australia in its quest to make the upgrades happen.<\/p>\n An economic study is reportedly the next step for the council to justify the spending. The last study was carried out in 2012, according to the Mayor.<\/p>\n Safety issues at Mount Panorama have been repeatedly thrust into the spotlight over the last 12 months.<\/p>\n At the Bathurst 1000, Grove Racing driver Kai Allen narrowly missed hitting a kangaroo on Conrod Straight.<\/a><\/p>\n This year, the Bathurst 12 Hour was marred by two incidents. The first involved Ford Mustang driver Christopher Mies hitting a kangaroo on Conrod Straight.<\/a><\/p>\n The gory scenes made headlines globally after the animal was obliterated and wound up lining the inside of the million-dollar GT3 car.<\/a><\/p>\n At the same event, Ralf Aron crashed his Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 into the parked Porsche 911 GT3 R of Tsunami RT driver Johannes Zelger<\/a> at Forrest\u2019s Elbow.<\/p>\n Aron suffered a broken back in the crash<\/a> and has not raced since.<\/p>\n At the Bathurst 6 Hour, Grant Denyer triggered a violent incident when his Chevrolet Camaro swiped Richard Barram\u2019s Volkswagen Scirocco.<\/a><\/p>\n The contact sent Barram\u2019s car into an exposed concrete wall and left him with serious injuries, including a broken back.<\/a><\/p>\n