Turns out we *do* need a .htaccess in the default repo

.gitignore

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 .*swp
-.htaccess
 *~
 application/logs/*
 application/cache/*

.htaccess

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Turn on URL rewriting only when mod rewrite is turn on
+
+<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
+	RewriteEngine On
+
+	# Installation directory
+	RewriteBase /
+
+	# Protect application and system files from being viewed
+	RewriteRule ^(application|modules|system) - [F,L]
+
+	# Prevent schedulers from being accessed remotely
+	RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^127.0.0.1$
+	RewriteRule ^.*/scheduler/.*$ - [F,L]
+
+	# Allow any files or directories that exist to be displayed directly
+	RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
+	RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
+
+	# Rewrite all other URLs to index.php/URL
+	RewriteRule .* index.php/$0 [PT,L]
+</IfModule>
+
+# Protect the htaccess from being viewed
+<Files .htaccess>
+	order allow,deny
+	deny from all
+</Files>
+
+# Don't show directory listings for URLs which map to a directory.
+Options -Indexes
+
+#Follow symlinks
+Options +FollowSymlinks