Repco Rally Australia Releases Ecological Reports

THE organisers of this year’s Repco Rally Australia, to be conducted in the Northern Rivers of NSW on 3-6 September, have released the various Ecological Reports relating to the proposed event. The reports generally conclude that any impacts arising from the rally are unlikely to be significant in terms of both Federal and State Government assessment criteria. 

The reports, comprising one devoted to the Kyogle Shire, one to the Tweed Shire plus respective Koala Plans of Management, collectively total almost 400 pages in length. 

They were prepared by respected local ecologists Dr Stephen Phillips, Ms. Marama Hopkins and other staff of Biolink Pty Ltd, a company based in Murwillumbah.

“We are delighted with the conclusions of the report, which clearly indicate that this rally can be conducted in a manner that is in harmony with the ecological values of the area,” said  the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Garry Connelly.

Dr Phillips and his staff worked for more than four months on the assessment, preparation and compilation of the reports.

As required for any such report prepared to accompany a development application, the reports examine all aspects of flora and fauna in the area of the competition stages (“special stages”) of the rally and the potential impacts that  may arise during the course of rally activity.

More than 450 person hours were spent by Dr Phillips and his scientific staff in assessing ecological issues associated with each one of the special stages.

As a result of the assessment, two Koala Plans of Management have also been prepared that contain specific measures to ideally eliminate any risk of road strike. Collectively, recommendations arising from both the ecological assessments and Koala Plans of Management work together to minimise the potential for adverse impacts on the flora and fauna known to occur in the vicinity of special stages.

 “The organisers have willingly embraced and agreed to implement all our recommendations,” said Dr Phillips.

A series of Questions and Answers from Dr  Phillips is available here

The report is available from the event website www.rallyaustralia.com/reports.