Queensland police have rejected a road closure application for next weekend’s Lions TT. However, the event will go ahead with the road closed to oncoming traffic only on the NSW side.
The Lions TT is a recreational ride – not a race – conducted on the picturesque Lions Rd that crosses the Queensland and New South Wales border.
Lions TT CEO Mark Luxford says he is “greatly saddened” by the “last-minute decision” by Queensland police and Main Roads to reject the road closure.
MotorbikeWriter pays his dues to Lions RdHe says they have spent “thousands of dollars on traffic management planning and controllers and have received approval to close the NSW side of the Lions Rd”, so the event will go ahead next weekend (October 4-5) but with amendments.
- Oncoming traffic will be present on the Queensland side, but there will be no oncoming traffic on the NSW section of the Lions Rd to Ripples;
- There will be no interval spacing between riders, so riders will be welcome to ride with their friends as normal; and
- As there will be no road closure on the Queensland side, it is now be possible to enjoy three journeys on the Lions Rd as organisers are not permitted to control that section.
Mark says they are unable to erect any safety signage, install marshals or structure the ride with intervals between riders until you arrive at the NSW border.
Check-in and scrutineering will still be at the Rathdowney Hotel and riders will be called across 20 at a time. “Once at the NSW border, I will put a 30-second gap between each rider to minimise competitive behaviour and allow people to ride their own way,” he says.
Spectacular views on the Queensland approach to the Lions RdThe approved road closure for the NSW side of the Lions Rd from the border to Ripples on the Creek is from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Riders who have checked-in and passed scrutineering will be called across in groups to avoid queuing at the border.
Riders who want to do the road again should leave Ripples by 2pm in time to get back to the border again via the Sumerland Way and Mt Lindesay Highway loop.
Riders will also be encouraged to continue on to Kyogle for the motorcycle festival which includes “an awesome display of power” between 3pm and 4pm with a 2300hp vehicles giving a live demonstration.
Entertainment will also include 10 hours of music kicking off noon with local bluegrass talents Watling and Bates. Several performers will follow, including the Cadillac Rockers from 4pm and ending with six-piece band, Shed Dogs, from 7 to 10pm.
Running Format:
- 8:30am – Check-in desk, scrutineering and optional breath testing opens at Rathdowney Hotel.
- 9:40am – First group of 20 riders called from Rathdowney Hotel to NSW border, followed by next group 20 mins later etc etc
- 10am – First rider departs NSW Border towards Ripples on the Creek, followed by second rider 30 seconds later etc etc.
- 3:40pm – At this time, no further riders will be permitted onto the Lions Rd as we must open the road at 4pm.