The hotly debated motorbike track on Narromine's outskirts has divided and confounded the local community as it crawled its way through the local approval process.

Now, the responsibility will return to the owner and creator of the track, who will need to make some changes and carefully manage the track's use, following the latest round of discussion at Narromine Shire Council.

The controversial project was on the table at two separate meetings of Narromine Shire Council in September, emerging with a long list of conditions attached to the development approval granted by a small majority at the August meeting.

 In the Public Forum held just ahead of the Council's September meeting, long time resident of Old Backwater Road, Joe Donelan, voiced his concerns.

He said that the motorbike track development will disturb the amenity of the neighbourhood by creating excessive noise, dust and stormwater issues and contradicts Council's own Local Strategic Planning Statement.

“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of the August council meeting when Councillors Lachlan Roberts, Les Lambert, Diane Beaumont and Casey Forrester voted against the recommendation of the independent professional consultant chosen by the Narromine council and paid for by ratepayers at great expense,” he said.

Mr Donelan referred to the fact that approval for the bike track had only been sought after it was built and questioned the integrity of a number of councillors.

“We have grave concerns that the (four) councillors have not acted in good faith; they have rejected expert recommendations ... [given their] support for an individual who has shown complete contempt for rules and regulations and refused an offer of an amenable, inclusive alternative.”

Mr Donelan added that the track and the response from Councillors has caused a great divide in the Narromine community, impacting individuals and families.

In the meeting that followed, Council was presented with 21 conditions prepared by independent assessor, David Croft.

Narromine Shire Council general manager Jane Redden recommended that a vote on the recommendations be deferred to the October meeting to allow Mr Croft to attend, but a motion to that effect was defeated.

Narromine Shire councillor Les Lambert. IMAGE: NSC

Cr Les Lambert argued that the councillors had enough information on the conditions and added, “We need to get this off the books once and for all.”

Cr Lambert then moved the standing motion in the business paper to accept all 21 conditions with some changes to Conditions 4 and 6.

Cr Lachlan Roberts, arguing against the need to provide a buffer zone for neighbours, maintained that there was no need for development approval at all.

“The simplicity of the land prior to the dirt being moved for the bike track is clear; there is no need for vegetation or a DA.” He added that the track was simply "to rip and tear around."

However in reports provided since the project was first presented to Council in February this year, staff and specialist consultants had advised that the project is quite large and complex and had potentially serious implications for neighbours and the local environment.

The Director of Community and Economic Development, Phil Johnson, pointed out that these conditions were part of the landscaping plan, forming part of the bike track's application for development approval. “This plan has already been submitted with the DA and approved,” Mr Johnson said.

A series of proposed amendments - to eliminate some conditions and amend or substitute others - were again debated at length.

Cr Lachlan Roberts. IMAGE: NSC

During the meeting Mayor Davies said at times he found it difficult to understand whether or not Cr Roberts was speaking for or against the amendments.

Cr Lambert's motion to accept all conditions with some alterations to two of them, was finally adopted.

However last Monday 25 September councillors were recalled to an Extraordinary meeting after it was discovered that Cr Lambert had used the word 'bicycles' instead of 'motorbikes' when he moved the recommendation to accept the conditions for the motorbike track. 

The error was quickly corrected and the focus now returns to the owner of the bike track, who will need to comply with a long list of conditions aimed at limiting potential negative effects.

 “The proponent, Luke Harding, will need to fulfil the conditions attached to the DA before he can use the track," Cr Davies told the Western Plains App.

“There is an expectation that the conditions will be followed with potential closure being the worst outcome should repeat breaches occur.

“My sincere hope is that given the opportunity he has, we will see a responsible use of the track with minimal disruption to the neighbours."

Mr Harding has opted not to comment.

The final approval for the bike track project is yet to appear on Narromine Council's list of approved projects https://www.narromine.nsw.gov.au/development/development-applications-monthly-report