Preferred route for rally announced
February 9, 2009
The preferred route for Repco Rally Australia, the FIA World Rally Championship event to be staged in northern New South Wales next September, will cover just less than 350 kilometres in competition on roads in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires, according to organisers.
The proposed event scheduled for 3-6 September comprises 34 competitive ‘special stages’ between Burringbar, close to the Pacific coast, and Bonalbo, south-west of Kyogle.
Details of the preferred route, which is subject to approval of a Development Application to be lodged next month and the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service, were announced yesterday by the rally organisers at community meetings in Kingscliff, Murwillumbah and Kyogle.
Garry Connelly, chairman of the rally organising committee, said less than 10km of the entire distance would pass through national parks.
“We have sought out the best professional advice both locally and elsewhere to run the event in harmony with its surroundings,” he said.
“Tremendous effort has gone into developing this route so it will satisfy the requirements of all authorities yet challenge the skills of the world’s best drivers.
“We appreciated the turnout of people at yesterday’s meetings and welcomed the reactions of both supporters and critics. These will be considered very carefully to ensure we make the maximum possible contribution to the region.
“The FIA World Rally Championship stands alongside the FIA Formula 1 World Championship at the pinnacle of motorsport and it’s a tremendous coup to have the support of the State Government, through Events New South Wales, to bring it here.
“It will bring excitement, pride and economic benefit to residents and businesses across northern New South Wales, plus thousands of international and interstate visitors who will take away a memory of one of the most beautiful parts of Australia.”
The proposed rally stages will be run almost entirely on lightly-used shire roads, none of which will be closed to residents for more than four hours at a time. It is expected each section of road will be used for one day’s competition only.
Numerous public spectator areas will be provided around the route.
The highlight of these is intended to be around a 2km version of the Speed on Tweed course in the heart of Murwillumbah, which would be used for a ‘super-special stage’ for the World Rally cars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Yesterday’s meetings heard questions about environmental issues potentially affecting wildlife and flora, resident access along rally roads, resident spectator passes, safety, medical emergency arrangements, rectification, volunteering, community fund-raising opportunities and many other matters.
The public was told Development Application approval was necessary to stage the rally. The application will be submitted to Tweed and Kyogle councils late next month and will include an Environmental Assessment report prepared by the rally‘s consultant Dr Steve Phillips, of Biolink Pty Ltd.
Representatives of the Githabul people, who hold native title rights in National Parks areas included in the rally route, have been consulted. This process will continue in order to ensure the interests of the Githabul people are satisfied.
Roads included on the preferred route include Ferndale Rd, Old Cob O Corn Rd, Hillyards Rd, Homeleigh Rd, Williams Rd, Byrill Creek Rd, Cudgera Creek Rd, Smarts Rd, Reserve Creek Rd, Eden Creek Rd, Peacock Creek Rd, Sextonville Rd, Afterlee Rd, Iron Pot Creek Rd, Ghi Ghi Rd, Collins Creek Rd, Lynchs Creek Rd, Round Mountain Rd, and Sargents Rd.
Related posts:
- Rally route details to be released at February 7 meetings
- Northern Rivers Tourism welcomes rally news
- Former Rally New Zealand GM to head up local FIA round
- State rally funding a boost for Kyogle businesses
- Federal grants worth $26m announced for local councils
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On reading the article about the preferred route for the Australian leg of the World Rally, (posted 9th February 2009) it struck me as somewhat bizarre that on the same page there is a recent post (dated 5th April 2009) about the search for the critically endangered Mitchell’s rainforest snail (thersites mitchellae). This snail is often found around the waterways on our farm, sandwiched as it is between the Mooball National Park and Cudgera Creek Road, both to be run as stages in this rally! Does the left hand not know what the right is up to?
My main reason for writing a comment on the article about the rally, is to correct the impression that the Githabul people hold native title to Mooball National Park (which is the main National Park stage to be run). There are currently no native title claims in the Tweed region, and the Githabul people are the traditional custodians of land further west, around Kyogle. While rally organisers are doing the right thing in consulting them, it is giving a false impression to state that : “Representatives of the Githabul people, who hold native title rights in National Parks areas included in the rally route, have been consulted”. Also, we were informed at the public meeting in Murwillumbah referred to in that article that there would only be 2 spectator points due to concerns for spectator safety – one at the Speed on Tweed venue and another at the Toonumbar dam. Your article gives the impression that there will be “numerous” public spectator points.
I refer your readers to the ralyaustralia website for some specific advice about the risks of participating in and spectating motorsports : see page 5 of this pdf(http://rallyaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009_rally_aus_tour_brochure.pdf ), reproduced below:
REPCO RALLY AUSTRALIA TOUR : September 2-7, 2009.
DISCLAIMER
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
MOTOR SPORT IS DANGEROUS
In exchange for being able to attend or participate in the event, you agree:
• to release Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd (“CAMS”) and Australian Motor Sport
Commission Ltd, promoters, sponsor organisations, land owners and lessees, organisers
of the event, their respective servants, officials, representatives and agents including
RallySport Magazine and Rally Australia Pty Ltd (collectively, the “Associated Entities”)
from all liability for your death, personal injury (including burns), psychological trauma, loss
or damage (including property damage) (“harm”) howsoever arising from your participation
in or attendance at the event, except to the extent prohibited by law;
• that CAMS and the Associated Entities do not make any warranty, implied or express, that
the event services will be provided with due care and skill or that any materials provided in
connection with the services will be fit for the purpose for which they are supplied; and
• to attend or participate in the event at your own risk.
You acknowledge that:
• the risks associated with attending or participating in the event include the risk that you may
suffer harm as a result of:
• motor vehicles (or parts of them) colliding with other motor vehicles, persons or
property;
• acts of violence and other harmful acts (whether intentional or inadvertent) committed
by persons attending or participating in the event; and
• the failure or unsuitability of facilities (including grand-stands, fences and guard rails)
to ensure the safety of persons or property at the event.
• motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and do happen and may
happen to you.
You accept the conditions of, and acknowledge the risks arising from, attending or participating in
the event and being provided with the event services by CAMS and the Associated Entities.
Signed……………………………………………………………. Date ………………..