Repco Rally Australia Announces Preferred Route

The organisers of Repco Rally Australia, the Australian round of the FIA World Rally Championship, have announced the preferred route for the 3-6 September event in the New South Wales Northern Rivers.

A map of the preferred route can be downloaded by clicking here.

The rally will comprise 35 competitive special stages totalling 340.4 kilometres in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires.

The organisers have now received in either draft or final form all reports required to lodge the necessary applications with various authorities.

These reports will be released to the public as they are finalised over the next seven to 10 days.

The route has only been confirmed by the Organising Committee following receipt of the preliminary Ecological Assessment Report on 4 May.

The report is very extensive and detailed and essentially approved the route from the viewpoint of ecological impact.

“Our preferred route has taken into account the views of the community, the very detailed reports from an outstanding team of independent experts and our desire to present a spectacular motor sport event for the region,” said Organising Committee Chairman Garry Connelly.

“The Organising Committee has consulted extensively with the local community, particularly those who are directly affected by the Special Stages that are being used, and with consultants who are experts in their respective fields.

“The objective has been to cause minimal environmental impact and inconvenience to people who live within the area.

“It satisfies our sporting requirements and showcases the best terrain elements of the region.

“It should look fantastic to the worldwide television audience and be challenging to the competing teams, befitting a World Championship event.”

The route still requires Council ratification, but Mr Connelly said the organisers had elected to announce it now so that authorities such as Police, Ambulance, RTA, Fire and others could progress their planning.

It also was essential information for residents and spectators.

“The consultations have included contact with the majority of people who live along the route, whose views we understand,” Mr Connolly continued.

“We have held public meetings, visited almost 400 homes along the route and spoken to the residents of those homes who were present at the time, or left messages for those who were not home, asking them to contact us.

“We have also received a number of letters from interested parties who have made pertinent comments about the proposed routes. Any relevant comments have been passed on to our specialist consultants, but particularly to Dr Stephen Phillips.

“We have been keeping very accurate statistics on the residents visits. A majority support the event, some are neutral and a small number are strongly opposed.

“We have considered all the views put to us by residents and the broader community and reconciled them with the advice of our expert consultants in determining the route.”

The route was prepared by the senior sporting official of Repco Rally Australia, Dr Michelle Gatton.

A map of the preferred route can be downloaded by clicking here.