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The demolition derby is an “oddball” sport, its enthusiasts say. Beaten up cars crash into one another on mud-soaked fields at rural agricultural shows, thrilling country crowds in a high octane version of dodgem cars.

Now, the Australian demolition derby community is fighting to keep the sport alive in the face of new safety rules it claims are heaping extra costs on to organisers and threatening its survival unless a compromise can be reached.

The motor sport has been in the safety spotlight since a car went through a barrier at the Walcha Motorcycle Rally in November last year, injuring 13 people and leaving two in a critical condition.

After the incident, SafeWork New South Wales, in conjunction with AgShows NSW – the body representing agricultural shows across the state – amended operational guidelines for derby events to include appropriate safety barrier types and arena designs.

The changes have sent the industry into a spin, with many claiming the cost of compliance to be unsustainable.

The Australian Demolition Derby Association (ADDA) president, Nathan Williams, says the changes have badly affected the sport.

“The decision is massive; there have already been five derbies in NSW … that have been cancelled … We’ve lost two of our events in Queensland due to just the ruling; they don’t want to be a part of it with the water barrier situation,” he says.

Despite its good-natured violence, it has been many years since the sport has caused major controversy. The first-ever demolition derby was held in Australia in February 1964 at Rowley Park Speedway in Adelaide, attracting the largest crowd ever seen at the track.

More than 20,000 people stormed the gates, with many more patrons stranded outside.

The chaotic event was abandoned after only 37 minutes as children swarmed across the track in excitement.

Williams agrees the incident in Walcha should never have happened, but emphasises it was the first occurence of its kind in five decades.

The new regulations stipulate the use of water-filled barriers made of high density polyethylene plastic containers, which when filled create an energy-absorbing heavy fence able to withstand crashes from vehicles travelling up to 70km/h.

Williams says the barriers had cost a derby in Maitland up to $15,000 – an additional expense that had led to the cancellation of at least seven events in NSW and Queensland this season, which ends this month.

One of the cancelled derbies was to take place at the Cessnock show. The president of the Cessnock and District Agricultural Association, Shiralee Adams, says the impact of cancelling the derby is affecting show ticket sales.

“We only had about a quarter of the public come through our gate,” she says, describing the derby as a “huge drawcard” to rural shows.

She says it took from 11 at night to 5.30 in the morning to install and fill the water barriers in the Maitland arena alone. “We can’t justify $13,000 to hire those for the Cessnock show,” she says.

She also raises concerns about SafeWorks’ proposed plan for a singular entry point into the arena, given the passage could be blocked by a broken-down car or hinder emergency access.

“What happens if we have an incident happen over the far side of the track … how do we get emergency personnel in to either put a fire out or to treat an injured driver?

“They said, ‘Oh, you’ve got to move the barriers … You need about a 10-tonne forklift.”

“We’re an ag show. We have a 70-horsepower tractor with a set of forks. We can’t physically move them … Your rules to keep our public safe … are putting our drivers in jeopardy,” Adams said.

Adams is determined to revive the demolition derby next year and has already started talks with SafeWork about how to make it achievable.

Williams says the ADDA has tried to work with SafeWork since the Walcha incident, but has been unable to come to an agreement about barrier regulations.

“We’ve tried to communicate with them to come up with a safe plan, a better or more affordable plan, but they don’t want to hear it,” he says.

As a minimum safety requirement, the association laid telegraph poles placed on their side as barriers and offered to stack half-tonne hay bales and tractor tyres along the trackside.

Williams says SafeWork verbally agreed to the measures but was unwilling to put anything in writing.

A spokesperson for SafeWork says: “Demolition Derby event holders are required to conduct risk assessments and implement adequate control measures when planning these events, taking into account the nature of the planned activity and the venue design.”

Williams says every event is fully insured and the ADDA’s insurers accept their plan and set-up.

The ADDA is made up of about 30 members, who describe it as a tight-knit family, with the children and friends of drivers regularly attending the events.

“As much as we love destroying each other on the field, before and after it we’re just a big family. Everyone helps everyone,” Williams says.

He worries the industry will disappear if the sport is unable to come to an agreement with SafeWork soon. Derbies are not run for profit, most prize pools barely cover the cost of the cars – and safety modifications are made out-of-pocket.

He says: “The attraction of the sport is that it is one-of-a-kind, an absolute oddball … that doesn’t make sense to a lot of people, but they damn sure want to give it a go.”

Tenille Fisher grew up watching her dad and older brother compete across regional Australia before becoming a driver herself. She now watches her husband and two younger brothers regularly compete – but is concerned for the future of the sport.

“We’re already seeing events cancelled, and with the costs and uncertainty around requirements, it’s becoming harder for organisers and drivers to keep things running. Everyone is trying their best to accommodate the rules, but it’s difficult when they change from event to event,” she says.

She has competed in the women’s derbies at Taree, Wingham and Dungog, and says she hopes her children will one day compete.

“Everyone supports improving safety, especially after what’s happened, but the way SafeWork NSW is implementing the changes has been really difficult,” she says, while also acknowledging how supportive the derby community is.

“What I love most is the atmosphere and the community; it really does feel like an extended family.”

AgShow NSW has declined to comment.