Officials Wait To Check Flood Impact On Rally Route

Officials of Repco Rally Australia are waiting for flood waters to subside in the New South Wales Northern Rivers so they can confirm the condition of roads earmarked for competition stages in the 3-6 September World Rally Championship event.

Picture: Part of the Murwillumbah Super Special stage under water last week.

Some of the heaviest rains in two decades combined with abnormally high tides in recent days to inundate many areas of the Tweed and Kyogle Shires.

Low-lying areas of the Super Special Stage in the town of Murwillumbah were flooded, but rally Clerk of Course Dr Michelle Gatton said an initial survey of some rural gravel roads to be used as Special Stages was encouraging.

“Our route covers a very wide area from the coast to around 120 kilometres Inland. There are more than 160 kms involved and it’s likely some have been flooded,” Dr Gatton said.

“We’ll need to do a full audit when the conditions improve. Our officials will be getting out there as soon as possible.”