The long mooted second motor racing track at Mount Panorama took a step closer to becoming reality with the Bathurst Regional Council formally calling for designs for the facility.

According to a report in the local Western Advocate newspaper, the council envisages a '$50 million project' would be required to establish the additional circuit, with a maximum length of 4.58km.

The council’s Expression of Interest (Eol) document, a copy of which has been obtained by the Western Advocate, calls for a new track to be constructed on the western side of McPhillamy and Reid Parks, and below the ridge where the clay target club is currently located.

The EoI calls for ‘detailed design drawings and specifications’ on a number of other areas including paddock areas, vehicle and pedestrian entrances, spectator areas and carparks, track safety structures.

“It’s the very first step in a very long process...” Bathurst Regional Council Mayor Graeme Hanger told the newspaper. “It’ll reinforce Bathurst’s reputation as a racing precinct. It’s exciting that suddenly something might happen.”

There have been several failed bids to establish a second circuit at Mount Panorama over the last 20 years. The attraction of a second circuit is the ability to operate a full time motor racing facility at Bathurst while utilising some of the existing Mount Panorama infrastructure.

The iconic Mount Panorama circuit is set entirely on public roads, and by law can only be used for motorsport competition on five occasions each year. Outside of those five events, the circuit is open to motorists as a public road.

The council hopes to determine the successful tender in July, 2017, with design, documentation and lodgement to NSW Planning prior to December, 2017.