By PETER DOUGLAS
ON the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Kalorama Vintage Car Rally, event organisers were shocked as Yarra Ranges Council advised the 2016 event could no longer take place at the Kalorama Memorial Reserve.
They were also informed the event could no longer be held at the reserve in the future.
After decades of continuous use at the oval, the dedicated event committee pondered not only having to cancel the 2016 event, but the prospect of never seeing it again at the beloved site.
Summing up the situation on their Facebook site, the committee posted the following message:
“This 60th Anniversary Rally will therefore be your last opportunity to take part in the event when held on the beautiful Kalorama Memorial Reserve. Please come along. Whilst the Rally will endure and be held elsewhere within the local area, you will never again have the opportunity to attend the event on this oval.”
However, their subsequent fight to see this year’s event reinstated was successful.
Also, their fight to see it continue at the oval seems to have made good progress.
Event chairman Peter Edgar said another successful rally last month was further proof it should continue at the reserve.
“The council’s main concerns were potential for damage to infrastructure and the surface,” he said.
“(But) the last event was very well patronised, when we left we couldn’t even see a tyre-mark.
“We’ve posted photos on Facebook to support this; there was no rubbish, perhaps one coffee cup.”
Mr Edgar said he has been overwhelmed with the level of support.
“We’re strong in our resolve and the CFA and community is right behind us,” he said.
“We’ve had a huge groundswell of support.”
The event attracts some high-level vintage cars; this year featuring a 1936 supercharged 540K Mercedes that was around in the Nazi Germany era.
Others to feature included a 1935 grand prix Bugatti Type 35C racing car and a 1917 Indianapolis GP replica.
The event also acts as a major fund-raiser for the Kalorama CFA.
Despite the confusion over the past few months, Yarra Ranges Council has given at least verbal support for the event.
Mayor Jason Callanan confirmed the council had been monitoring the site’s usage.
“Yarra Ranges Council has been investigating the impact of holding the Kalorama Rally on the oval at Kalorama Memorial Reserve, determining that the oval will be able to be used for the event on an ongoing basis,” Cr Callanan said.
“The council has made considerable investment into sports field infrastructure across the municipality and wants to ensure that all fields and protected and maintained for the use of families, sporting clubs and community groups.”
Cr Callanan said the event would continue at the site.
“I am proud that the council can continue to support this long-running community event, which has been with us for 60 years,” Cr Callanan said.
“I now hope the community and organising committee are reassured that the event will remain at Kalorama oval for years to come.”
Cr Callanan also added the reasoning for the initial advice on this year’s event was merely policy.
“In the event of significant rainfall 40 hours prior to an event, access may be restricted for safety reasons and to ensure the ground is protected for ongoing use,” he said.
“In regards to the 2016 Kalorama Rally, the council had some concerns about preserving the drainage and turf works completed late last year as a significant rainfall had been predicted.”
Mr Edgar said the event committee was still preparing a submission for the council, which he hoped would give the event further confidence moving forward.
“We want to seek approval from the council in a co-ordinated manner,” he said.
“We need to know where we’re going next year.”
