Council’s meeting on Tuesday night also supported plans for camping to be allowed at Gosling Creek but only when special events, such as triathlons, are held at the venue.

Mayor Reg Kidd said council had also agreed to allow free car parking at the Ophir car park through December and into mid-January to help Christmas shoppers and workers.

And Cr Kidd said tough Level three water restrictions, which have just been introduced, would be eased to allow residents to use hand held hoses on alternate days.

Cr Kidd said council staff would begin preliminary research to find out whether a chairlift, as proposed by deputy mayor Sam Romano to run from Lake Canobolas to the top of Mount Canobolas, was practical.

He said they would discuss the plan with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and discover initial costings of the work.

Cr Romano has said a chairlift would support plans to open an extensive mountain bike park on the mountain and should be complemented by building a restaurant at the summit.