-TORRENTIAL RAIN CAUSES RALLY TO BE POSTPONED

Persistent torrential rain from a deep East Coast Low off the South Coast of NSW has forced organisers to postpone the running of this year's Kumho Tyres Rally of the Bay in Batemans Bay, which was scheduled for this weekend 29th June.

More than 100mm of rain or four inches in the old money has fallen around Batemans Bay in the past 24 hours with more is predicted over the next two days, with many creeks flooded and the prospect of the them remaining high organisers took the tough decision to postpone the rally to a date to be determined.

Rally manager Col Fletcher said it would have been foolhardy to go ahead with the rally given the massive rainfall and the risk of road damage not to mention the potential for having half the field stuck off the road in the sodden forests.

"There are also a lot of trees down in many places and it will take some time to clear and get the route back into some semblance of order," said Col Fletcher.

"We sent a rally official out into the forests on Monday afternoon to check the road conditions and the creeks rose so quickly that he was forced to stay out in the forest overnight because the roads were impassable, which is an indication of just how bad the conditions are and a further justification for postponement," he said.

"These decisions aren't taken lightly and we appreciate everyone's understanding particularly the businesses in Batemans Bay who have been so strongly behind the rally.

"We are currently looking at potential dates later in the year, possibly in October which will allow us to reschedule the Rally and bring the excitement of the event back to Batemans Bay," he added.

The North Shore Sporting Car Club will determine a new date for the rally over the coming days and will advise via the club and rally websites.

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