KINGSCLIFF, NSW // Northern New South Wales is a sleepy, provincial quarter of Australia. Populated by small-town friendlies, charming beach-side towns sprinkle a seemingly infinite coastline. Cut out of the lush tropical expanses, groomed farmlands spread inward, twisting in and around jungle-dressed mountains. Contrary to common perceptions of Australia's hostile landscape, the shires of Tweed and Kyogle comprise a lush green belt which separates blue beach from brown bush - it is a perfect picture.
It is not a place one expects to find protests. But Rally Australia's NSW staging generated enough disdain among a very vocal majority that the event's organisers were forced to cancel two stages to protect drivers. Riot police were even on stand by to ensure civil order remained intact on the first day as a gathering of placard-wielding activists taunted the world's finest off-road drivers. "We visited every landowner along the routes of the special stages," said Garry Connelly, chairman of the rally's organising committee. "There was something like 466 of them and we interviewed in excess of 380. Of those, 87 per cent were supportive."
So who were the demonstrators set on upsetting the Kingscliff apple cart? Understanding the area is key. In these parts, traditional coastal and farming communities are under threat from sprawling development. Big city high-flyers are closing in. New expansive resorts and expensive ocean-front homes have brought suburbia to the area's timeless backwater hamlets. While the onset of modernity has sparked fierce local debate, the arrival of Rally Australia somewhat electrified the stakes. Tensions ran increasingly deep.
The battle-lines were drawn over select issues, each attracting their share of protesters. The state's most northeastern corner's selection as Rally Australia's new venue - it had previously been held in the country's west - appalled environmentalists. High-speed cars tearing through national parks was not an attractive proposition for the "greenies". Others piggy-backed the green agenda, asking why no-one checked with them first if the WRC was welcome in the shires. Some even argued the state's government passing of a law which effectively allowed organisers to bypass logistical red tape was "unconstitutional".
Placards asked why money spent on motorsport sponsorship was not going on health care instead. The concerns, most valid, led to organised demonstrations which, aside from the actions of a few fools, were largely peaceful. One of those standing up for her beliefs was Suzanne Gray. "It is not just an environmental protest," she said. "Laws were changed to accommodate the rally and the Australian minister for primary industry admitted on national television they changed the laws to minimise the risk of opponents using the court system to stop the rally.
"Using the courts is our right as part of a democratic system. The fact that the rally could have been stopped in the courts only affirms that it should have been." Not so says Connelly. "The government didn't want to leave things open to a legal challenge at the last minute - which we had anyway - so to try and minimise the risk, and because they really wanted this event, they - with the support of the opposition - passed an act of parliament to make this event happen," he said.
"Both sides of politics said: 'Yes, we want this event.' They came together and said: 'This event is important for the nation, for the state'." The NSW government has signed a five-event deal, which is expected to bring in AUS$100million (Dh 314m) to Tweed and Kyogle shires over the next decade. "Even though it is being touted as bringing economic benefit, the West Australia government got rid of [the rally] because it wasn't making money," counters Gray. "There is also no mention of the fact that it is being subsidised by taxpayers' money, despite the fact that many are against it, and even more are indifferent. We would rather have our health system funded."
One of those firmly for the rally is Kim Clark. The Clark family owns a Kyogle farm producing seasonal gauvas. They also operate Clark Buslines year-round - a minibus service which usually helps gets rural children to school, but during the rally has been ferrying fans to stages. "The vast majority of people in Kyogle are in favour of holding the rally," Clark said. "It's only a small minority group that disagrees with it but having the rally has already had an effect - we've had the roads done, potholes and gardens fixed. It's been great. There will be positive knock-on effects felt throughout Kyogle. My bus drivers are on double-pay overtime and they'll spend the extra cash in town.
"I'm putting the extra money our buses make this weekend in to a new lounge suite. I'm going to buy it here in Kyogle, so what goes around, comes around," added Clark. Armed with physical evidence, the environmentalists' concerns hold no sway with Clark. "I drove the entire length of our road this afternoon and there was no dead wildlife that I could see," she said after the rally's first day. "There was minimal road damage. The next property along from ours is a sand quarry, and the large semi-trucks going in and out create more dust and potholes than all the rally cars put together. Everyone forgets about that or doesn't know that it is happening."
After beating a last-minute appeal - lodged by a local councillor - to see the rally cancelled, Connelly prefers using findings of the scientific variety. "We've got evidence to show it doesn't [damage the environment]. That's very clearly documented in an independent report," said the rally chief. Connelly, who is due to step aside following Rally Australia's conclusion, believes honest protesters' agendas were manipulated.
"I understand concerns, but I feel they are being driven by people with other political agendas. They are using the rally to present themselves and perhaps launch a political career or a position of influence. They think they can use the rally as a platform for that," he said. "You've got a group of people, a very vocal minority, who are against the rally and it's so sad that when you have tens of thousands of people who have turned out for this event that 40 or 50 people got so much attention."
emegson@thenational.ae