A new video has been uploaded to You Tube as part of our continuing campaign against Repco Rally Australia.

The saga continues .... now Tweed Shire councillors are turning on each other over the rally and their response to it.

And you thought "Rats in the Ranks" was nasty ...
More on the people involved in the fast-approaching, undemocratic Repco Rally in the world heritage Green Cauldron area of Northern NSW including the Tweed Valley and Kyogle.

An online petition has been started following the NSW state government passing "special events" legislation to enable Repco Rally Australia to go ahead.

The enabling legislataion foreshadowed on 29 May by NSW State development Minister Ian Macdonald has been introduced to parliament.

Local community groups in the Tweed Valley and Kyogle are outraged at their treatment by Repco Rally Australia and their consultants who prepared a crucial report supporting a planned car rally in the area in September.

The NSW state government has taken the decision about planning approval for the proposed Repco Rally Australia leg of the World Rally Championships away from local councils by announcing that it would prepare special events legislation to ensure the rally goes ahead despite growing local opposition. The minister responsible is Ian MacDonald, Minister for State Development, Energy, Primary Industries, and mineral resources (pictured left).

Media Release from No Rally group. Use as you can. "Concerned Tweed Valley residents will express their opposition on Thursday to the proposal to hold a leg of the World Rally Championships in the Tweed and Kyogle areas..."

A short video highlighting some of the environmental concerns we have about Repco Rally Australia's plans to run a car rally through the Tweed and Kyogle areas.

There is a Simpson's episode where a "snake oil salesman" comes to Springfield promoting something or other. The actual thing they are promoting is useless, worthless and does not work ... BUT ... they do a nice song and dance routine and as a result captivate the community leaders. Sound familiar??? It does to us in the Tweed valley and Kyogle areas. Talk about life imitating art!!!

Repco Rally Australia spin merchants have outdone themselves in the last few days. Not only have they spun their web of deceit around the NSW state government and the Tweed Shire Council they have now caught themselves in their own web by posting comments from their "independent" ecological consultant that he did not say. They were caught out very publicly on ABC local radio yesterday.

See also: "Environment expert clears rally" by Peter Caton in the Tweed Daily News of 18 May 09 in which Dr Phillips is misquoted by REPCO Australia Rally organising chairman Garry Connelly, "Come in spinner" of 21 May 09, "Repco Rally Australia releases reports 'in stages'" of 15 May 09, latest Tweed Echo, which demolishes Rally Australia's claim of majority Tweed Shire support for Rally.

Repco Rally Australia Chairman Garry Connelly announced via NBN TV News and the Tweed Daily News that his organisation would be releasing the environmental, social and economic impact reports for the proposed rally in the Tweed and Kyogle areas "in stages" over the next week or so.

In August 2008 the Tweed Shire Administrators, as one of their last decisions while running the Council, decided to provide financial and other support to Repco Rally Australia for their proposed car rally in the Tweed Valley. Recently, the details of that decision are being rewritten by newly elected councillors and the General Manager.

After much delay (didn't they realise it rains here????) the Development Application for the planned car rally in the Tweed and Kyogle areas in September this year seems likely to be submitted to the councils in the next week (unless further delayed by acts of God or Brian).

The video posted to You Tube has had to be removed because I received a copyright infringement notice.

We have taken the promo video put on You Tube by the rally organisers and turned it into a more realistic rendition of what the rally really means for the Tweed Valley.

Update: The video has been removed by YouTube because the organisers of the World Rally races have claimed that it breaches their copyright. If it does breach copyright, they, nevertheless, could hardly complain that the removed video provides a less accurate depiction of how the rally will turn out than their own. - JS, 23 Apr 09.

See also: Raceway through the Rainforest. Paradise lost! of 19 Apr 09, Rally Australia promotional video.

Local residents of the Tweed and Kyogle areas are concerned about the risk of dangerous copycat driving in the lead up, during and after the planned Repco Rally Australia in September.

What you can do: Attend meeting in Uki at 12noon Sat 11 April,
contact no.rally[AT]yahoo.com.