Features
Repco Rally's latest PR fiasco
Mel McMillan 11th June 2009
RALLY UNREST: Kathryn Kermode (right), a resident of Sargents Road at Cawongla, raises rally issues with Repco Rally Australia marketing manager Kelvin O’Reilly at Kyogle’s Town Hall.
THE lights were on, but very few were home at the Repco Rally's first 'open house' community consultation session in Kyogle yesterday.
The poorly-attended session was held to provide an opportunity for the community to view a series of reports on the rally's ecological, noise, dust and socio-economic impacts.
On display were koala and waste management plans and information about how the event plans to offset its carbon emissions.
Rally staff, including the chairman of the board of Rally Australia, Alan Evans, were on hand to talk about the event with the community.
However, the community consultation session came under fire from anti-rally group 7th Generation, which said rally organisers failed to adequately advise the community about the session.
The group's spokesperson, Peter Lanyon, said it was a 'Clayton's consultation'.
“It was extremely low on publicity,” he said. “There were a variety of organs through which they could have told the public about the consultation session.”
Rally media officer Chris Nixon conceded the session was held at short notice.
Information on the Kyogle session was posted on the rally's website less than 24 hours before it was due to start.
Mr Nixon said the rally had relied mostly on the media to get word out about the session.
“We sent out advice on Sunday and then a reminder yesterday,” he said.
The rally will hold two more open house sessions in the coming days.
Another session will be held tomorrow at the Tweed Shire Council chambers, between 9am and midday.
A third session will be held at the Kingscliff Community Centre on Saturday, between 2pm and 5pm.
The rally will be held in the Kyogle and Tweed council areas on September 3, 4, 5 and 6.
For information visit: www.rallyaustralia.com.
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Recent comments on this article
Regardless of what anyone in this region wants or the price the wildlife and environment pay, hell or high water the Rally will go ahead. And they wonder why people get so angry these days. Personally I hope every single car breaks down at the start line. Ernie Bennett I hope they take a wrong turn and go speeding through your garden!! Dirty Deals is the only word for this rally!
The negative long term economic and social effects of the rally far outweigh any short-term benefits. This fact is becoming more obvious to a growing number of
people. It is a disgrace that the parent body, FAI, lobbied the state government to override local objections. These meetings are no longer about 'consultation' - now we are merely 'informed'.
What a joke the "community consultation" has been. How cowardly and contemptible of them to give such short notice.
The socioeconomic report has been thoroughly discredited by a damning joint letter, written by six Community Organizations were involved in the community consultation research.
And now, on instructions from France, our state govt is about to introduce "Special Legislation" that will provide indemnity for the organizers and exempt them from abiding by the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act, National Parks & Wildlife Act, Forestry Act, Fisheries Management Act, Crown Lands Act, and the Local Government Act. They are also exempt from noise and other nuisance acts.
Get ready for Tuesday, when we see the demolition of our democratic rights.
Once again a few Protesters have disgraced themselves and the majority of People who welcomed the World Rally Team to our area.
It is fair enough to disagree but surely they should at least make an informed decision for themselves and not be carried along by those out to disrupt. This is the first time the Rally has been held in our area and surely the responsible thing to do would be to wait till the Event is over and then to weigh up the advantages and disadadvantages before making Public Displays of themselves.
We pride ourselves on being Australian and giving “Everyone a Fair Go” but that obviously meant nothing to some people especially those who threw rocks or boulders at the cars or onto the road. Maybe those people should look in their own backyard before they criticize others and act foolishly.
Maybe there are some things that can be done differently, but that is what you learn from experience
To the Organizers and the Rally Drivers and all the Volunteers “Thank you for a great weekend.”