Mount Panorama property's transformation into accommodation hub begins

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WORK is finally under way on plans to add new tourist accommodation to Mount Panorama.

The plans for the property at 505 Conrod Straight first came to light in 2019, when a development application was lodged with Bathurst Regional Council seeking to construct cabins and a primitive campground.

Council approved the DA in April 2020, and since then it has been modified, removing the campground component.

Before ground could be broken at the site for the new accommodation, further approvals had to be obtained from Motorsport Australia and then the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) so a new driveway could be constructed.

Property owner Keith Tucker said the process took about 18 months and was required due to the property's location alongside the race circuit.

"We were visited from a London [FIA] representative who checked the engineering, checked the location for where we were placing the new driveway and they approved it all," he said.

He said the existing driveway was dangerous and will be decommissioned once the new driveway is ready.

The new driveway is located close to where the tourism accommodation will be established.

The development is being constructed in stages, with the driveway and a new machinery shed included in the first stage.

Stage two is expected to start in October 2025 and will include the construction of five two-bedroom tourist cabins, a new six-bedroom family home, another machinery shed, and a swimming pool.

A new septic system and stormwater irrigation system are also part of stage two.

"Stage two will take approximately, weather permitting, two years," Mr Tucker said.

"Due to the weather we've had, I'd say probably more like three, so we've got a long road ahead of us over the next two to three years.

"Once it's completed, it'll be a motor sport heaven - paradise for revheads."

That was always the vision for the property when Mr Tucker and his wife acquired it around eight years ago.

The couple are involved in the automotive industry, owning several businesses, and are passionate about motor sport.

As a result, they feel right at home on Mount Panorama.

The new accommodation they are building will be available throughout the year, while the family home will be available to book just for the main race events.

Mr Tucker is confident there will be a strong take-up for the accommodation options.

"We're basically booked out five years in advance in the current [accommodation] in closed-track events and outside of that we've got about 80 per cent occupancy," he said.

"There's multiple groups that want it and once it's finished we'll have no problem at all leasing it or renting it on short-term rental."

He expects the accommodation to be available in late 2026 or early 2027.

Frequent visitors to Mount Panorama might have noticed the monorail cars sitting alongside the track at 505 Conrod Straight.

They are from the monorail that used to run from the former Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast over to Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach.

The monorail closed in 2017 and in 2022 Mr Tucker acquired the disused cars.

Subject to council approval, Mr Tucker intends to relocate the carriages elsewhere on the property and convert them into unique tourism accommodation.

"It will more than likely be a two-bedroom tourism accommodation facility," he said.

He added that the control centres at either end would be fitted out to be a gaming area for kids.

Mr Tucker also said he intends to have a private putt-putt golf course built on the property for the use of guests.

That, too, is subject to council approval.