Rally of Canberra under threat

Just a few points to make being near the event.

ROC 2006 was shown in over 115 countries with an audience of over 85.5 million people. It has a potential audience of 2.5 billion people which is about 1/3 the worlds population. (http://www.power-pictures.com/aprc.asp)

Also for people to understand that the WA government was running the same style of event with an operating cost over 1 million dollars yet the ACT government is running the exact same level of event for under $700,000 dollars. In New Zealand they have done some cost analysis and found that over a 3 year period that they would have an income into NZ of $24 million dollars. Even with a smaller event like ROC then the income would be still acceptable . Spectator numbers where down last year due to one then thing, “The high temps” no one want’s to go stand in the forest in 37c heat. EPIC will not be used as the costs of setting it up are astronomical, over $200,000 per event.

The current government doesn’t like motorsport one bit hence why there is no World Rally Championship here nor is there any Dragway here.

Good get rid of it.

paperboy, a round of the world rally championship (which I don’t think we’ve ever hosted – the possibility arose a few years ago when WA dropped out) is a different beast to the Rally of Canberra.

pandy, that was basically gonna be my comment.

$700,000 to Chic Henry then.

ROC was hurt last year with poor spectator options, and security stopping anyone dropping in to their own better (unofficial) spots.

That and the fact that the Asia Pacific Rally Champ has its weakest fields in its history means that the ROC failed to draw big crowds.

I have been at the Mineshaft with 2-3000 others – and remember the stage at EPIC where 5000 or so watched the Super Special Stage…

I thought this was old news, I heard it was canned last year? But anyway thanks for the refresher so another event that brings 1000’s of tourists to Canberra gone, this is really disappointing, I am massive fan of the rally , and was an even bigger fan of the GMC 400 when are we going to wake up come on Minister Barr!!! Lets try and attract some major events to the Nations Capital eg Cirque du Soleil, I say lets resurrect the Birdman Rally

Found this on the ABC’s website from March 2005!!!

The ACT Motorsport Council has expressed disappointment at the State Government’s decision not to fund a round of the World Rally Championship in Canberra.

Sports Minister Ted Quinlan says the Government cannot afford to underwrite the $10 million event.

Leon Nolan, from the Motorsport Council, says it is yet another blow for motoring enthusiasts in the national capital.

“Once again we miss out on a major event,” he said.

“I think the thing that the Government tends to overlook in considering these sort of things is the affect on tourism.

“You might pay out money up front but you get a lot back in hotel occupancy and tourism generally and just putting Canberra on the map.”

Mr Nolan says it is not the first time motoring fans have been disappointed.

“Everyone’s a bit disenchanted because we lost the GMC 400 for similar reasons,” he said.

“We’re starting to think that motorsport is a disenfranchised sport in the ACT.”

Tourism Minister Andrew Barr has been burring up about the Rally cos it soaks up a shitload of money ($700,000 IIRC) yet the visitor numbers are only in the thousands (if that).

There’s a year left on the sponsorship contract (I think) and the ACT Govt is trying to find ways to get out of it unless another major sponsor can be found.

Apparently the tourism lobby wants the money spent on other things.

I’m yet to fathom the reason my exorbitant rates should be used to fund any activities that only benefit private hotel operators, or fund statues of corrupt Labor mates, for that matter.