The Silverstone Classic

The following are some of the emails that went back and forth during the Silverstone Classic issue.

As a preamble - in early August, residents of Reesville Rd (but not feeder roads) received a flyer from Silverstone announcing the SunCoast Classic  (here).

Silverstone rep Bob Carpenter came to Maleny for a public meeting in September and sent a letter to (some?) residents asking for their support after the meeting (here). 

As a back-to-front postscript, Silverstone have now taken the issue to a new location - Mt Glorious - and seem to be meeting resistance once again - clippings from the 'Westerner' here.

For earlier articles on the issue, see here and here and here and here and here.

Saturday, 19 August 2006 12:42 PM

To: Cr Dick Newman

Subject: Suncoast Classic

Hi Dick - have gone back through minutes and agenda items and can't find mention of the Suncoast Classic (Silverstone Events) set to take place here next July.

Did Council have any say in this?

There are some disgruntled people not too keen on having hot cars roaring around our hinterland roads.

And I want to ask the right people the right questions, of course.

Sammy

From: Cr Dick Newman

Friday, August 18, 2006 12:33 PM

Subject: RE: Suncoast Classic

Thanks Sammy

Good point. Not everything goes to Council for consideration. An application for an event such as that proposed by Silverstone goes in the first place to Community Lifestyle for consideration. Community Lifestyle had a look at the proposal and determined that there was sufficient merit in it to allow it to proceed subject to community considerations. They then spoke to the Councillors whose residents would be affected (including me) and we all agreed that the application had merit. Here comes the tricky part for me, because that was a while ago so I am short on memory of the detail but do recall that it seems like a reasonable request. So at that stage, Silverstone got an approval in principle for the event subject to various conditions. I'm also aware that they have gotten the same result from Qld Police.

From there, it is up to Silverstone to contact community to seek support. If I have the story right, somebody has decided to pre-empt whatever process Silverstone intended to take by delivering a flyer to residents in Reesville. I guess that is legitimate if you have made up your mind to try and kill the proposal, however, for reasonable people, it may be nice to now get information from Silverstone.

The position is that Council and Police will refuse the request if there is substantial community opposition. Obviously with every decision there is a cost and benefit. The cost of missing out on the event is lost revenue to community groups who cater for these type of events. My suggestion to those people who have decided that they don't want the event is to gather a petition. While I personally support the event, my role is clear but people will need to demonstrate that there is widespread discontent. It shouldn't be too hard for people to kill this off.

As you point out, the event is proposed for next July and then every 2 years so there is plenty of time for people to make their determination.

In respect to hot cars roaring around our roads, this occurs with regularity whether or not people are disgruntled. This is an event which legitimises the activity under controlled circumstances for a limited time. One resident asked me whether I would still agree with it if it affected my street. The answer is yes and that I would take Debbie down the coast for the day. I see it as not so bad as people near me who have children riding trail bikes for hours and hours on the weekend. Or people who have parties warning etc.

Best regards

Cr Dick Newman (Div 1)

From Dick Newman

Friday, 18 August 2006 4:15 PM

Subject: RE: Suncoast Car Rally

Hi all,

I wanted to put you in touch with each other as you have all sent me an email objecting to the Silverstone proposal. I now understand that the information you have received did not come from Silverstone. It was my understanding that Silverstone intended to visit all affected residents to provide information to you and to hear any objections. Perhaps you would like to allow them time to make representations to you and perhaps you consider that you have enough information.

My understanding is that if you do not want the event to happen, then there would need to be significant (or some other adjective) opposition. It is not clear what may constitute significant opposition. Perhaps together, you can take some sort of action such as gathering up a petition. If you did decide to do this, I would be happy to present the petition to Council on your behalf.

Best regards

Cr Dick Newman (Div 1)

From: Cr Dick Newman

Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:15 PM

Subject: RE: Suncoast Car Rally

Hi again

Kerry McIntyre asked to be put in touch with you. I have also included some further residents who are not happy with the proposal. This now gives 8 objections.

It seems that I have not put my position to some of you adequately, which is that at this time, I support your case. This is because there is no evidence that others in the community support the application, and it is not my role to support Silverstone. In making individual responses to you, it was my desire to provide you with information. Providing you with information does not mean that I support a different position. It simply means that I want to help you have the best available information.

My best understanding of the proposal at this time is that a professional outfit (Silverstone) has made an application that has been viewed in a very positive manner by government (State and Local) staff and political representatives. The best way to have that application refused is by demonstrating significant community opposition which led to my suggestion for a petition. If the matter were to come to Council right now, I would be supporting a position that the application should be refused. Silverstone will be looking to convince Council that it can demonstrate significant community support. The Councillors, like me, will not be looking to support Silverstone, they will be looking to support community.

A petition would help to convince Council that there is significant community opposition. There may be three possible outcomes:

1. Silverstone demonstrate clear community support - application approved.

2. I demonstrate clear community opposition - application refused.

3. Not sure one way or the other - Councillors will support the residents proposal over the Silverstone proposal - application refused.

I can certainly see that this has come uninvited to you and that you may consider that there should be no onus on you to prove significant community opposition, nor that you should be required to gather a petition or similar. I'm just making a suggestion. If each of the current objectors were to gather 10 signatures, I would then have 80 objections rather than 8. 

Best regards

Cr Dick Newman (Div 1)

Caloundra City Council

From: Hildene

To: info@silverstoneevents.com

19 Aug 06 22:55

ENQUIRY FROM CONCERNED RESIDENT

For the attention of Rob Van Wegen and Bob Carpenter

Good afternoon Gentlemen:

 we have recently become aware of an event you plan to stage next year, which involves, amongst much else,  closure of a road where we live.

While it's all well and good for you to decide that you will do this, you should be aware that there is considerable public/local resentment at the high handed manner in which this decision has been made, and opposition is growing very rapidly - something which happens easily in a small, rural community with an established email tree (used extensively in our stoush with a corporate bully) and a fine bush telegraph grapevine of information dispersal.

Maleny and Reesville residents have recently been "done over" in a decidedly heavy handed manner by woolworths, Caloundra city council and other entities, aided and abetted by government at all levels. This is an area filled with environmental treasures of both flora and fauna, peopled by residents who are, in the main, concerned with more than making a dollar; people who care about where they live, who moved here for peace and quiet and who are more than capable of making a very big fuss when  treated in a heavy handed fashion.

You intend to close the road for considerable periods of time.

What thought, if any, has been given to the numerous people who conduct small business from their homes ?

We have no timings - merely dates 5/8 July 2007. The two months notice you appear to offer means little to some residents.

What consideration have you given to shift workers, water delivery (a frequent occurrence) dairy farm pickups and the like ??

What about owners of B & B establishments (numerous in the area you intend to close off) whose guests would fully intend to drive into Maleny and other parts of the area ?

Having spoken with dozens of ticked off locals, I would suspect that the answer is little or none.

Reesville Road, possibly one of the most dangerous, narrow and accident prone stretches of road in the hinterland, is probably the last choice of any sane person when looking for somewhere to run a car rally. We even have trouble walking along what passes for the road verge during a normal day, and yet you blithely plan to allow cars to race along its length - with the end at Burnett Lane being a killer even for people who know the road and drive carefully. If you want to have a rally, why couldn't you choose to run it through state forest, or privately owned land where the owner doesn't care what you do. This happens in Canberra and also in New South Wales and appears to work perfectly well.

What thought has been given to what you will do in the event that a vehicle careers off the road and damages property (let alone a person .. and that has happened at other similar events as you would be well aware). Liability insurance isn't always enough compensation for what could be lost, be it a life or a 200 hundred year old tree.

We have no idea what sort of cars you plan to involve. Are they 250 sedate  motors which will purr along, giving locals an opportunity to stand outside and enjoy the spectacle or will it be 250  modern, (and noisy) cars which will simply scream past our homes on more than one occasion, making a mockery of what we moved here for - namely peace and quiet. It is noted that this is set down as a speed/time trial, so it's pretty obvious that all drivers will be doing the latter.

The three major grievances I have are that

(a) It would appear that there was NO community consultation (merely a glossy brochure and a public relations blurb handed out to some residents) stating it as a fait accompli, or so it would appear (you don't know what a tough, committed and bolshy lot we are up here ..but you could ask woolworths and find out) would you care to tell me how many local residents you spoke with as a form of consultation, especially given that the dates given cover Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ...in a small rural area where every day of the week is busy.

(b) Once again we appear to have been sold out by Caloundra council, a seaside entity which cares little about the Hinterland and even less about Maleny and its residents, situated as we are 60k away from & 500m above Caloundra.

(c) You appear to have either overlooked, or ignored, the fact that there is NO alternative route in or out for any one of us trapped here by your proposed and extensive road closure. It's ok for you to give us all the reassurances about medical and other aid available to residents as well as competitors but the reality is that if there was an emergency you cannot be sure that we could get out in a hurry (and with the coming summer looming as an extreme fire hazard I'm not merely talking about medical emergencies)

Last of all, you state that "The SunCoast Classic is to be conducted with the approval of the State Government, and all Shire Councils in the region, and the course has received 'approval in principle; by the Queensland Police Service". That's fine, but where does it say that you actually consulted any of the hundreds of locals residents who may not wish you to tear up their neighbourhood, regardless of whether you intend to involve P & F, Service Clubs and the like ??

Thank you in anticipation of a prompt reply to my concerns.

kind regards

(Mrs) Kim Straker

Heya Sammance!

maths has never been my strong suite, but is that just under one race car per minute, for 4 hours solid (= 250 racing vehicles in 240 minutes - oh, and PLUS their support vehicles and PLUS the media helicopters ...)

R&Pxx

From: Glass House Electorate Office

20 Aug 06 01:08

Suncoast Classic Rally 2007

I have this evening spoken to Mr Bob Carpenter, Operations Manager & Clerk of Course, Suncoast Rally 2007.

I have conveyed to him the concerns that residents have raised with me via email and telephone calls, and obviously by the Maleny Email Distribution List.

I have invited Mr Carpenter to come to Maleny to speak to residents about the rally and about their particular concerns with noise, pollution, road closures, etc.

Mr Carpenter is in Adelaide this week, and will telephone me next Sunday night to work out a time and venue for the meeting.  He is keen to meet with you to talk about all of the issues.  I would expect this to be a mutual exchange of ideas and opinions - and residents can then make a decision about whether they support this event going ahead.  I am happy to take all of those views forward after the meeting.

I would like the meeting to go ahead as soon as possible, and would be aiming for Thursday 31st August at night - if Mr Carpenter is available.  It may need to be another night, and I will advise as soon as possible.

Could people let me know what sort of time would suit them best - obviously not everyone would be able to make it - but perhaps they could send representatives.

Please contact me via return email at:   glasshouse@parliament.qld.gov.au

Thanks

Carolyn Male MP

State Member for Glasshouse

From: Sammy R

Sunday, 20 August 2006 1:13 AM

To: Cr Dick Newman

Subject: Re: Suncoast Classic

Thanks for your considered answer.

As with all these things, gathering all the facts can be difficult while it's easy to harvest a lot of angst and conjecture.

Your point about the current racing circuit is spot on - I live on one of the most active.

I note that Maroochy minutes have the item and approve it without reservation.

However, I also believe that the coast will receive most of the financial benefit. I think that Silverstone's approach to the commuity was what sparked this - I haven't seen the letter but it would seem it simply states that it's happening.

No doubt someone will raise a petition.

Sammy

From: Cr Dick Newman

18 Aug 06 14:13

RE: Suncoast Classic

Thanks Sammy

I understand that some benefit will go to Landsborough. In the spirit of accepting that we have been forced to be part of a local authority called Caloundra City, I try to think about community as a whole rather than Maleny and coast. I'm not sure if it was Silverstone who has made the approach and understood that they intended to go door to door to actually talk to people rather than send out flyers. They are looking at a long term relationship with the various communities, not a one off event. 

Given your observations of Maroochy, it seems that a pattern is emerging in that anyone who has had a proper briefing of the event is supporting it.

Best regards

Cr Dick Newman (Div 1)

From: Jill Morris/Greater Glider

21 Aug 06 23:06

Re:  tarmac (our road) car rally

I've had several email conversations with Bob Carpenter, who wants to come to Maleny on 31 August at the behest of Carol (sic) Mayles (sic); later called Caroline (sic) Male; presumably to be eaten alive by the local community re Reeseville (sic) Road - should be spelt Reesville.

I've asked him to bring to the meeting a detailed breakdown of how this event will bring us $3 million.

Sir Jack Brabham no less has launched the event.....

In a rally, a red flag means STOP.

So we are going to need lots of red flags. Will find out the size.

Jill Morris

From: Hildene

21 Aug 06 22:49

re SunCoast Rally

hi there Sammy  forwarded without comment from me (for once) and for your information/forwarding as you see fit. cheers from Kim

----- Original Message -----

From: Bob Carpenter

To: hildene@optusnet.com.au

Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 3:02 PM

Subject: Kim Straker re SunCoast Rally

Hello Kim,

Peter Millear has forwarded me your email. As He will have told you I am in Adelaide this week. I have just discovered to my great annoyance that the email address info@silverstoneevents.com.au is not responding via the server and for this reason, several emails have apparently disappeared into cyber-space.  For this I can only apologise, and assure you that the last thing I would ever do is ignore any person, let alone one who wished in good faith to contact me about an issue with our proposed event.

I should add that on Sunday afternoon when I arrived in Adelaide I received a phone message to call your local member Ms Caroline Males. This I did immediately and I have agreed to attend a public meeting which will be organised in Maleny as soon as practical, so I can answer many of the concerns that have been expressed.  I have told Ms Males that I will welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters in a calm and rational discussion.

Peter Millear has also forwarded me a couple of other emails from other residents, which I will also answer personally today. Unfortunately, some of the comments and assumptions made are far from accurate, and based on incorrect assumptions and presumption of knowledge about the very extensive planning that goes into such an event.

Statements have also been made along the lines that ?there is no benefit to the Maleny community? and similar comments. Such statements are also flawed, as there are considerable benefits to the Maleny community through significant opportunities for various service clubs, community charities etc to earn very well from an involvement with the event. I undersand that some of the residents of a community such as the Maleny area and Reeseville may only be concerned with their own community, but the wider picture is that the SunCoast Classic Rally will be responsible for a total direct spend in the Sunshine Coast area in the reion of $2.5 to $3 million, much of which will be in the smaller communities on the various days courses, and ALL of it a direct benefit to those communities. All of the benefits to which I now refer, as well as other relevant information about the SunCoast Classic Rally, is best discussed in open forum at the meeting that will be planned, and I hope that I will be able to count you among the numbers attending.

Best regards,

Bob Carpenter

General Manager & Clerk of Course

SunCoast Classic Rally.

From:Jill Morris/Greater Glider

19 Aug 06 16:41

Re: Reesville loop racetrack

Here we go again - protecting wildlife and peaceful ways of life against the mighty car and sports of the wealthy. We are all writing to Dick, Carolyn, Peter and the new Greg A Lewis from the police. The police say is not a fait asccompli - but will happen unless enough people object. Dick says we need 80 objectors; so far he has had eight.

Please everyone write! Witta Road would also make a great raceway.

And what about the North Maleny route to the Lake, with a barbie at the end of the time trial?

I think we might have a stronger argument with a petition; but complaints are even stronger via posted snail-mail letters.

Stress the safety angle and the loss of local economy, as well as lifestyle and wildlife issues:

There is only one lane access in many places, with degraded edges. There is no footpath or even a bushy nature strip to protect the hundreds of walkers and jofggers who take to Reesville Road every day. And are all the home-based businesses expcted to close for two days? Are the dairyfarmers to organise delivery trucks around classic cars' closures? 'Only two days"....and the rest of the weeks of practice runs which are inevitable.

We all admire the old classic cars at Phillip Island in Victoria - but there are no people running lives, families and businesses, to say nothing of protecting wildlife, around that track!

More than anything, in legal/political community terms, we have not been consulted. Two flyers delivered to houses in Reesville Road (ignoring all other feeder roads) is NOT consultation.

Write! Scream! Here we go again, gang....!

This time it's the very beginning of the Obi Obi, Stanley and Mary Rivers.

All of these rise at the top of the Big Dipper on Reesville Road.

Jill Morris

From: James H Davidson, Publishing Director

01 Sep 06 19:16

Subj: OBJECTION to proposed speed trials on Reesville Road/Burnett lane July 2007

Dear City Councillor, State Member for Glasshouse and Police District Office - Sunshine Coast Office

Please record our strenuous objection to the proposed use of Reesville Road and Burnett Lane for speed trial in July 2007. These are six-fold:

1. They will destroy the natural assets of Reesville with roadside erosion and discarded waste from participants and spectators.

2. They will damage our health, quality of life, the local environment and wildlife habitat with pollution from exhaust fumes and oil spillages.

3. They will damage our health, quality of life, the local environment and wildlife habitat with noise pollution.

4. They will restrict access to our home and office by four casual employees and thus impact on their income and ours.

5. They will restrict access to building works currently underway on our property and thus incur costs and delays for us, the builder and his contractors.

6. They will restrict our access to Maleny (3-4 times daily to post office, printers and suppliers) and thus incur costs, delays and damage to our quality of life.

Clearly the interest of Silverstone Events Pty Ltd are NOT the interests of residents using Reesville Road.

At least this time you can serve our interests rather than the bullying greed of corporations.

Thank you for your service to the community which pays you.

Yours sincerely

James H Davidson, Publishing Director

From: Hildene

06 Sep 06 14:56

Subj: Re: Silverstone meeting

As just one of the locals insulted by Mr Carpenter from Silverstone, I naturally felt somewhat agrieved by the way the meeting was hijacked by him and several of his (seemingly) imported supporters. However, be that as it may, the evening was pretty much as reported by Dick - who managed to display better manners than Mr Carpenter, and also kept his composure in the face of incredibly rude treatment by the same person.

 Mr Carpenter (who must win an award for being possibly the most boring presenter of all time - but who won no awards at all for diplomacy or tact) kept assuring the audience that "hundreds and hundreds" of spectators would descend on Maleny, thus bringing amazing amounts of tourist dollars with them. Which could almost be believable if there was anything of the race for them to see. Ah, there's the crux of the matter. Mr Carpenter told the audience that people who lived along the route (the same people who are forbidden to leave their properties for four hours on each of two days) were welcome to invite spectators along,(the better to have their ears damaged by the 100 plus vehicles which will be tearing along Reesville road at speeds in excess of 100kph - smart move by Mr Carpenter to fail to mention them while in the same breath slyly saying that cars would only be travelling at 68kph ...some -a very few - will do so. The majority will be racing hell for leather to make their times.)

but that all such moves would have to be submitted to Silverstone who would have the final say in whether the plan could go ahead, or not.

The question I ask is this:just who is running our town and surrounds ?? Is this yet another example of big corporate bully boys dictating to Council and other authorities a la the woolworths saga ??Why would these 'hundreds and hundreds' of tourists turn up in Maleny if they can't even get on to the course to watch the race being run ?

Oh, sorry about that word. Mr Carpenter stressedthat this is a rally not a race !! I stand corrected. Rally, not race, that makes it so much more acceptable.

anyhow, who are these people, and who or what gives them the right todictate to residents what we can, and cannot do, on our own propeerties?

If you really look into the race (sorry, rally) details, it becomes clear that the majority of the apres rally action will take place in Noosa (the Hinterland apparently being unable to nightly house all those involved- strange, at last count there were large numbers of B&B's, hotels and other establishments up here, all of whom appear to manage to provide accommodationyear long with no trouble at all) and I would suggest that Noosa, not Maleny, is where the majority of the race lover's dollars will end up being deposited.

Since I have no catering experience, I can't comment on the $12,000 which apparently could be made by "local service organisations" for providing meals on the two days competitors will be in this area.

In the interest of a fair review, I must say that the company appears to have covered the subject emergency/fire/police very thoroughly - as well they should. Apart from being a requirement put on them by the various authorities, they are totally closing off the only way out of here to some seven hundred plus residents, for 4 hours at a time, on two separate days.

There are dozens of other issues that deserve further examination, but for now, I'll leave you with those I've mentioned.

We went along to that meeting (after being the recipients of several polite and, I now see, ingratiating, emails from Mr Carpenter over the past couple of weeks) prepared to listen to what he had to say, to consider fairly the proposal put forward by his company and to see what the overall opinion of the attendees might be. Given the amount of time that Silverstone has been working behind our back, in light of what occurred at the meeting, andwith the addition of the incompetence and arrogance of Mr Carpenter, I have not been won over to their side at all.

My personal opinion now is that Silverstone considers that this is a deal done and dusted. Despite approval being given only 'in principle' (a fact the company takes pains to underplay) it looks like this race will go ahead, despite the pleadings of many people (a number of whom don't even live along or adjacent to Reesville road) If this company really cared about residents of the areas they intend to take over, then a reasonable scenario might have been for them to call a public meeting months ago (they're been planning this behind our backs for more than two years by the way) introduce themselves in person, have a bit of a chat about what they do in South Australia, show their video clip, explain what they wanted to do with the Reesville road section and, most importantly, ask for input to the ideas from locals. That could have been a way to reach a reasonable compromise, instead of the standover tactics which they employed - the end result of which is yet another drama in a community already wearied by years of fighting another bully.

From: Paul & Richenda

06 Sep 06 14:47

Subj: Special Stage controversy - post Maleny meeting comments

Further to my previous correspondence on the subject of the Suncoast Classic Car Rally :

Once again, I'll say that I am not against The Rally - only of the inclusion of Reesville Road-Burnett Lane being used as a highly inappropriate "Special Stage"!!

I went to Tuesday's Meeting to hear, with great interest, just what Silverstone's explanation would cover - but I came away from that meeting, far more wanting to keep Reesville free from Rallyitis!

Silverstone's General Manager, Bob Carpenter, may have been knowledgeable and enthusiastic about cars and running Rallies in Australia - but a good PR person for his Company and a good persuader of Aware Communities, he ain't !!!

Bob was very good at dribbling on and rambling all around the topic, to deliberately waste time, so that less residents could ask questions and receive the answers they needed.

By the end of the meeting, I considered him rather arrogant, patronising, disrespectful, chauvinistic - and at times, downright insulting - in his displayed attitudes!!

There was also the implied threat that if we didn't play ball and allow the Reesville Special Stage, then he'd take his cricket bat elsewhere - and Maleny would suffer.

I also realised that this Community and his way-of-thinking are poles apart and that he will never "get it", just why we are not keen to have a Rally roaring through our lives.

I was left with the impression that he thought we were a bunch of country hicks whose concerns were baseless and insignificant and that ANYthing could be "fixed" by throwing money at it (or, by saying he would!!).

As for his pathetic excuse as to why the affected residents of Reesville Road-Burnett Lane were not consulted - incredible!A squillion dollar company (as he kept reminding us about), would not have just one lonely footsoldier (oh, but don't forget the GM's helpful goodwife, Lois!) doing such an important job - IF - repeat, IF - they took that job at all seriously!!!!

So no, not impressed.

He did more harm than good to Silverstone (!) and very cleverly rubbed many of us Residents up the wrong way!!!

RJ Bridge

To: Kevin Pullen

Subject: Rally

Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:09:44 -0700

Hi Kevin - Sammy up in Maleny here. The one thing that has been overlooked and overlooked and...

the Reesville Rd people don't want to stop the rally - they just don't want it on Reesville Rd. And there was no financial gain for them to begin with - in fact there was no financial gain for the hintereland to speak of if you read the early program.

I'm neither here nor there on the issue - though I probably would be if they were holding it in my street! - but it's a bit unfair to accuse them of trying to stop the rally.

They never did.

Sammy Ringer

From: Kevin Pullen

Thursday, September 21, 2006 6:40 PM

Subject: RE: Rally

Hi Sammy

I don't recall a single letter from Reesville actually "supporting" the rally "elsewhere"!

There has been nothing unusual in how the announcement of the rally was made by the organisers.They have to proprose a route, obtain approval in principle from the relevant authorities and then seek comments on the residents affected and seek final approval from the authorities with any amendments, etc.I concede that the initial announcement perhaps could have made that clear which may have reduced the letters to the editor!

I personally believe that objections would have been received regardless of the proposed initial route!

What angers me, is the purely emotive objections that seem to run through the letters to the editor - although I have readily admitted bias in favour of the event, my letters are an attempt at a reasoned and logical debate.

If Reesville supports the event elsewhere, just not in their patch, they are welcome to fire off a supporting letter to the editor!

Regards

Kevin

From: Paul & Richenda

04 Oct 06 22:00

re the proposed Raceville Track :

Just today, we received a letter from Peter Slipper that enclosed a CCC one - dated 11th September! - and the final para is :

"... Council is aware of concerns from local residents along Reesville Road and Bob Carpenter from Silverstone Events has assured us that he has personally visited 700 residents to date and will continue to visit until he has seen everyone ..."

u-huh.

(you think he'd do the actual route, FIRST, eh ....)

Paul and I have been thinking that there's already been an increase in traffic along our road - and much of it rather speedy - we've certainly seen more "sports cars" along here than ever before ... jeez, gotta get that Postively Peaceville vision into full-time activation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

Chend xox

and in an email just received from local Wilvo, Carmel :

" ... I was out at midnight collecting an injured mum and joey.Hit on the corner of Reeseville (or should I dare to say that other name) and Corks Pocket.Driver didn't stop.Mum died in my arms and the joey had to be euthanized ... "

From: Glass House Electorate Office

12 Oct 06 14:47

Subj: Suncoast Classic Car Rally

Dear Residents

I am writing this email to all residents who have contacted me regarding the proposal by Silverstone Events to have a leg of the Suncoast Classic Car Rally run in the Reesville Road/Burnett Lane area.

The majority of the residents who live on the proposed route who have contacted me are not supportive of the event going ahead in this area.

I understand there is support for the proposal around Maleny, but I believe that as this event will impact negatively on the local residents, then their concerns must be placed foremost in any decision making.

Yesterday I met with the Police Minister and the Police Commissioner at Parliament, to take these concerns forward.

I have put forward the proposition that Reesville Rd/Burnett Lane are unsuitable for a rally, and that the organisers need to work with the community to find a more suitable location in the Maleny area.

To that end, I have requested the Police to work with Silverstone Events to establish an alternative area.I have also requested that proper consultation be done with residents prior to any future proposed location being put forward for approval.

I have been disappointed with the way Silverstone Events have sought to divide community opinion, rather than working to find a solution that will satisfy residents, community groups and motoring enthusiasts.

I have indicated to the Minister and Commissioner that I would be happy to be a part of the process to locate an alternative site, and I would encourage all local residents to forward suitable site options to me so they can be included for consideration.

Kind regards

CarolynMale

Ms Carolyn Male MP

State Member for Glasshouse

& Government Whip

From: Cr Dick Newman

28 Oct 06 13:23

Subj:

RE: Suncoast Classic Car Rally

Hi All,

Here is a draft article for TRN next week. Sorry to those who wanted the Rally to come down Reesville Road - you may have to drive out to the main road to watch it there instead. In inspecting the Council system to approve these types of events, Councillors found it to be flawed. These things only come to light when something like this happens.

I will be happy to work with Silverstone, but can tell you that at this time, they have not made any contact with me.

Council refuses Reesville Road section of car rally

Caloundra City Council has changed its approval process for significant events and at the same time refused the Reesville Road leg of the Suncoast Classic Car Rally. In speaking to the motion, Division 1 Cr Dick Newman told Council that the organisers had failed to adequately consult with community. He said that both he and State Member Carolyn Male had received a number of complaints ranging from loss of income for small business, to problems for shift workers and in one case, the ability to move a child with on going health problems. Cr Newman said that it was up to the organisers to understand and resolve community concerns and that they had failed to do so.

He noted that the Council agenda report contained what appeared to be the flyer that Silverstone Events had apparently put to some of the affected residents. Cr Newman said that the flyer had apparently not been provided to all affected residents. Neither local or State representatives knew of it and that they only found out by many complaints that it had been delivered.

The Council report also contained extracts of communications sent out by Silverstone Events with highlighted quotes such as "the fight is certain not to stop here", "to continue the fight" and "noisy minority". Cr Newman said that Silverstone should not be talking about fighting, but about how to resolve the genuine concerns of people who would have been affected. "Council refused a similar event at Kings Beach because the organisers were unable to resolve the concerns of one resident - in Reesville, I have 107 concerns to work through." he said. "Council staff and elected representatives will work with event organisers, but organisers need to be willing to but in the hard yards and not snipe from their interstate headquarters. If I can't resolve the concerns of the residents through negotiation and compromise, then I shall resolve them by having the event refused."

Another stage is proposed to be held from Conondale to Curramore Road on 6th July. Further stages will be held in Peachester and Landsborough. Cr Newman did not rule out relocating the Reesville Road section in Maleny. "Both Carolyn Male and I are happy to look at an alternative route. If Silverstone would like to engage Council to undertake the consultation, I think we would have a good shot at getting something up

Best regards

Cr Dick Newman (Div 1)

Caloundra City Council

30 Dec 06 17:32

Hi Sammy ... I'm forwarding some items of interest from Brian Phillips, the Mt Glorious resident who is gathering support to defeat the proposed silverstone event .... I thought that I was going to drop some material off to him and one other person .. When I got there it was to find about 30 people waiting for me ..not a bad effort in a community which numbers probably only 300 in total.

I had a wonderful day with them, they gave me lunch and a/tea and seemed to be as pleased with the knowledge that Maleny had got rid of the bullies (the race bullies not the w/w bullies but they were interested in that stoush too) as with the information I had for them .....

I handed out stickers of the yellow and black persuasionand I noticed that several of them were on cars by the time I left.

Brian has added the main roads warning sign "leaves on road" .... Have you ever seen anything like it ? The other item is a newspaper article which appeared a little while ago ... If you read through it you will see that the Pine Rivers council operates in much the same manner as CCC ...not surprising I guess but disappointing all the same.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on their problem if you have a spare moment (NE year or another)

Cheers from Kim

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