No Rally Group media release

Sunday, August 29 2010

Review rearview: A lost opportunity for a leap of faith 

The No Rally Group (NRG) has been approached by the Homebush Motor Racing Authority (HMRA) to work with them to help ensure the smooth return of the World Rally Championship to the Northern Rivers in September 2011. 

The overtures to join a working group were made at a meeting between the two groups held in Murwillumbah on Friday. 

As a result of that meeting NRG has affirmed its commitment to support sustainable and community focussed events in the Northern Rivers. 

In doing so the group restated its total opposition to the running of a round of the World Rally Championship through the Northern Rivers. 

The rally ran in September last year through parts of Tweed and Kyogle Shires and is scheduled to return every second year for up to twenty years. 

“What part of No don’t they understand?” spokesperson Michael McNamara asked. 

“We are the No Rally Group – not the Least Worst Rally Group.” 

“Recently released figures on local tourism show that the rally and the related broadcasts around the world have not led to the touted increase in overseas tourists claimed by rally organisers.” 

“Figures for the March quarter recently made public by Tweed Tourism revealed that overseas visitor numbers and overnight stays in the Tweed had actually dropped in the first three months of this year.” 

“The rally has certainly not led to the claimed increase in visitors – and they can’t blame the global economic downturn because it was here when they made their claims.” 

“It has been amply demonstrated that low impact, sustainable events can make a major and lasting contribution to the local economy without causing the massive social division associated with the rally,” Mr McNamara said. 

“For instance, the recent surf life saving championships at Kingscliff attracted more visitors than the claimed (and misleading) attendance figures for the rally.”

 “Events such as the Tyalgum Festival of Classical Music, the Banana Festival in Murwillumbah, the Tour de Tweed cycling event, the Kingscliff Triathlon and the Surf Life Saving Championships show the way forward.” 

“Other local initiatives coming forward through groups such as the Caldera Institute for Sustainable Community Development will have a lasting impact on local economic wellbeing.” 

“I challenge the Council and the state government to take the lead in establishing and supporting this type of event instead of the divisive and questionable type of event the rally represents.” 

The HMRA representatives, CEO Bryan Hardman and General Manager Stakeholder Relations Chris Bastic, were sent to the Northern Rivers by State Treasurer, and Minister responsible for the rally, Eric Roozendaal, to discuss the recently released review of the rally with stakeholders. 

“It came as quite a surprise when the last thing they wanted to talk about was the review,” Mr McNamara said. 

“It was ‘the elephant in the room’ and they certainly did not want to talk about it.” 

“They were obviously aware of its shortcomings.”

“The review report is full of judgements and perjorative statements and claims without any discussion or evidence to back them up.”

“It is lacking in any detailed or deep analysis of the submissions received. The analysis seems to be limited to counting the numbers for and against.”

“Undue weight is given to the opinions of those with vested financial interests in the rally proceeding (RRA, Events NSW, Chambers of Commerce etc).”

“The report refers to costs but does not specify them - we are none the wiser about the actual costs of staging the event.”

“The report continues the absolute exclusion of Aboriginal people in the Tweed from any consultation.”

Mr Hardman and Mr Bastic proposed that all the ‘mistakes’ of the last 12 months be put behind us and start with a ‘clean slate’ in organising next year’s event.”

“This proposition flies in the face of reason and common sense,” said Mr McNamara. 

“If you want to start with a clean slate, then first you must clean the slate.” 

“How do we put behind us the lies and deception that characterised the organisation and running of the rally?” 

“They want us to sit at the table with the very people who have ridden roughshod over this area for the last 18 months without any steps being taken to redress the harm that has been done to this community.” 

“We had no choice but to reject the overtures.” 

“Community trust was destroyed by the rally organisers and the state government last year.” 

“The government needs to start to rebuild that trust.” 

“We have asked them to start rebuilding that trust by: 

·         publicly releasing the amount of the public funds given to rally organisers by Events NSW

·         releasing the total cost to the taxpayer of the support from government departments and agencies such as Police, Ambulance, RTA, Fire and other services

·         impartially enforcing what laws remain in place after the ‘special legislation’

·         funding a comprehensive ecological study that considers the impact of stress on native wildlife, the impact of running the event in the breeding season and the cumulative impacts of running the event every two years for up to twenty years

·         holding the rally organisers accountable to their promises and commitments

·         commissioning a truly independent and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis

·         admitting that the published attendance figures are misleading and publishing a more realistic estimate of visitor numbers

·         taking action against rally drivers and supporters for breaches of traffic laws during the event.” 

“We made the point to the HMRA representatives that our group had spent much time and effort last year meeting with them to discuss options for a genuinely independent and thorough review – all to no effect.” 

“We also pointed out that we had initiated meetings with police to develop a protest protocol and liaison process that agreed on specific legal protest actions, only to see police acting in a very partisan way.” 

“The police actions and inactions of that weekend have formed the basis of a formal complaint to the Ombudsman which has led to a review of police actions.” 

“After releasing a pathetically inadequate and gratuitously insulting review report, I find it hard to comprehend that HMRA should think it is ‘business as usual.’” 

“No Rally Group supports appropriate development and opposes inappropriate development and sees the rally as a specific example of the latter.” 

“One reason the rally gained traction in the public mind and in the media is that it represents, for many in this community, everything that is wrong with planning and development in NSW in general and the Tweed Shire in particular.” 

“I assure the many community members who have supported us in this struggle that we will continue to oppose the rally with every legal means at our disposal,” Mr McNamara said.

 

 

 

Defending community values against the motor sport industry
Defending democracy and the environment in NSW

 In 2009, the NSW Parliament passed special legislation to allow the WRC Repco Rally to race at high speeds through the towns, national parks and rural roads of Tweed and Kyogle Shires in the beautiful and unique Northern Rivers region.

The No Rally Group was formed to oppose this event, and the undemocratic processes that allowed it to happen. We support the many residents who hold concerns about the use of special legislation to override environmental laws; the use of a World Heritage listed landscape as a backdrop for high speed racing; inappropriate use of public funds to pay for the event; and its imposition on the local community.

Latest video by freelance photographer Jimmy Malecki:
 

No Rally Group Legal Fund 

NRG has set a fundraising target of $30,000 to pay costs incurred seeking an injunction against the rally in August 2009.  

Click here to donate, here to volunteer or check out our fundraising events schedule.
 

 Click below for more information on specific concerns