Team tests impact of Repco Rally | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

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Poll

Are you for or against the Repco Rally?

This poll ended on 30 December 2009.

For

76%

Against

21%

Undecided

1%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

THE DUST has settled from the Repco Rally, held in the Kyogle and Tweed shires last September.

Now the NSW Government has sent a team to the region to find out exactly what the impact of the event was.

The Government’s rally review team, made up of Homebush Motor Racing Authority chief executive Bryan Hardman and general manager Chris Bastic, with independent consultant Mark Cahill, is here to gather submissions about the event.

“We are here to get as much information as possible about the rally,” Mr Bastic said.

“We are hoping to hear a wide variety of views.”

Tonight the team will hold a pub- lic meeting in Kyogle to hear from residents and stakeholders about how they were affected by the rally.

Yesterday, the team met with State Member for Lismore Thomas George to hear his view. Mr George said while he supported the rally, he did present letters from his constituents to the team – five exp- ressed opposition to the rally and two offered constructive criticisms.

Anti-rally groups, No Rally, based in the Tweed, and Kyogle’s 7th Generation, have also had a chance to voice their views.

“They will be putting in a large submission,” Mr Bastic said.

7th Generation spokesman Peter Lanyon said the group met with the team for an hour yesterday.

Mr Lanyon said he was concerned the review would not look into the economic impact of the event.

Under the 2009 Motor Sports Act, the legislation the NSW Parliament passed last year to ensure the event went ahead, a review of the event’s impact on tourism, the environment, Aboriginal cultural heritage, public safety and the local community must be conducted and a report prepared for Parliament.

It is expected Mr Cahill will complete his report in March and it will be tabled in Parliament during the autumn session. Submissions which will be considered as part of the formal review process can be made in writing until February 19.

Tonight’s meeting will be held at the Kyogle Memorial Hall at 6pm, with a second meeting to be held at the Murwillumbah Council Auditorium on Wednesday at 7pm.