A PATH to cater for triathlon and human-powered vehicle races at Gosling Creek could become reality, with a development application likely to receive the green light.
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The proposal from Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club will be considered on Thursday night and has been recommended for approval.
It involves widening an existing circuit from three metres to a maximum of six metres, however it has been delayed considerably because it proposed removing and relocating mature trees after changes to biodiversity legislation.
Several threatened plant and animal species were identified at the reserve, however a study concluded no serious or irreversible impacts would occur if the development proceeded.
The staff report recommended retractable gates at strategic locations to prevent high-speed collisions between cyclists and small children using the reserve outside competition times.
However, acting development services director Mark Hodges wrote after further discussions with the club, he accepted gates could be problematic for riders and could result in "significant" safety issues.
"I recommend that consideration be given to alter [a condition] that requires the gates across the path to slow riders," he said.
"The suggestion would be to provide an additional option of compliance for extensive line marking around high pedestrian areas of the track to warn both riders and pedestrians of hazards in lieu of the installation of hard physical barriers."
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