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Rally Australia yet to confirm route

Despite being just three months away, Rally Australia organisers have still not confirmed precise route details or ticketing arrangements for the all-new east coast-based event

Rally Australia is due to start on September 3, but the organisers have been hindered in their plans by a requirement to provide proof that the event won't have a detrimental effect on the local environment.

In the past month, reports have been published for dust management; waste management; acoustics and two papers each on ecological assessments and the impact the rally might have on the local koala community.

In an effort to underline a financial commitment to the event, the New South Wales government today announced its intention to introduce special events legislation to Rally Australia, essentially underwriting the 10th round of this year's World Rally Championship.

Before the event can be signed off, however, the organizers are now faced with running open house consultation sessions with local residents and making more house-to-house visits in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires where the event runs.

Rally Australia Organising Committee Chairman Garry Connelly said: "With less than 100 days remaining until the event, we are pleased the Government has taken the initiative to introduce legislation in order to give certainty to the rally.

"We now hope to be able to start the all-important marketing of Repco Rally Australia, including the launch of ticket sales in the near future.

"The organisers will proceed with the next round of community consultations, where residents may inspect various reports and plans for the event, ask questions and make comments. The resident visitation program will continue with increased activity over the next month."

On top of those issues, the organisers' ability to check the stages for the event have been hit by some of the heaviest rain in two decades allied to abnormally high tides. Clerk of Course Dr Michelle Gatton said the officials would be looking at the route as soon as possible.

"Our route covers a very wide area from the coast to around 120 kilometres Inland. There are more than 160 kms involved and it's likely some have been flooded," Dr Gatton said. "We'll need to do a full audit when the conditions improve. Our officials will be getting out there as soon as possible."

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