I live in the picturesque valley of Piesse Brook. Most of the time it is a peaceful place of incredible beauty. A major impediment to that peacefulness is the daily “hooning” my neighbours and I (and lets face it – the whole hills community) have to live with.

So when I recently became aware that my house would be part of the course for the Targa West Rally to be held on the 5-7 September, I was outraged.

After checking with my neighbours, we were all astounded that both the Kalamunda Shire and Targa West had not even bothered to consult with residents over this.

I was interested to read the response to my concerns in this article from the Targa West director Bob Schrader. He states “some of Mrs Warden’s statements were misleading and incorrect.”

I’m quoted as saying that “Motor sport is dangerous…”, a fact that is acknowledged on Targa West’s website (click here).

He states that “Every thing is done in a controlled environment.”, yet this is the same Rally that the very experienced racing driver Peter Brock died in (read here). Interestingly, if you read Targa West’s disclaimer at the bottom of its route map, you will see that:

• if you choose to attend or participate in this event, that you agree to release Targa West from all liability;
• that Targa West do not make any warranty, implied or express, that the event services will be provided with due care and skill……;
• to attend or participate in the event at your own risk;
• that you acknowledge that by attending the event that you run the risk of suffering harm; and
• that motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and DO happen and may happen to you.
  

I’m wondering…..if a resident is waiting to leave their property during the race, and an accident occurs (like the Peter Brock incident) that kills the resident, are they considered by Targa West to be a spectator? Can the family then sue the Kalamunda Shire (who have no disclaimer to hide behind) for allowing such a recognised dangerous event within a residential area?

It was also an interesting comment that “He disagreed with her belief that the rally would encourage hoons.” I can only assume that he doesn’t believe a large percentage of Targa West’s viewing demographic would be young males. Coincidently, it is well acknowledged that young males seem to make up the vast majority of hoons. Consequently, I just can't buy the argument that this type of sport will encourage young hoons to get involved with the very expensive world of motor sport environment and get them off the streets.

What Mr Schrader needs to know is that once his circus has packed up and left the area, we residents will still be inundated with dangerous hooning behaviour; we still don't have a manned police station able to deal with this ceaseless situation; and that the number of white crosses on my street and along Mundaring Weir road (the part that they wish to do the speed time trials), will undoubtedly keep growing.

We are a residential area, not a race track! A more appropriate venue for this event would be somewhere where houses and residents are not located close to the race track. Quite frankly, it is my feeling that the community is getting pretty fed up with being “rail roaded” by these large organisations.