The Bathurst Regional Council has moved to support the proposed co-naming of Mount Panorama by the margin of a single vote.
The move, which would see Mount Panorama co-named Wahluu in recognition of the area's indigenous heritage, is yet to be ruled on by the Geographical Names Board.
Local council support is a requirement for the GNB to ratify the co-naming effort, which comes ahead of bicentenary celebrations for the Bathurst township next year.
A council policy meeting this week saw a 4:3 vote in favour of the co-naming.
The three councillors that voted against the co-naming cited both a negative response from the public and the “out of the blue” nature of the proposal as reasons for their stance.
Cr Monica Morse has been a leading advocate for the Wahluu co-naming and stressed that much of the public discontent has stemmed from a lack of understanding of the proposal.
“I think we haven't been very good at explaining that the Mount Panorama racing track will not change,” Morse told the Western Advocate.
“If we look at the rules for dual naming we see that it does not apply to infrastructure, roads, bridges or other built features.
“So the circuit, the pits and everything associated with motor racing will retain that much-treasured name of Mount Panorama.”
Information supplied by the council confirms that the co-naming would not see the legal name of the Mount Panorama Circuit altered as it does not apply to infrastructure.
Other areas to have undergone legal co-naming in the past include Sydney Cove / Warrane, Mrs Macquaries Point / Yurong, Shark Island / Boowambillee and Darling Harbour / Tumbalong.