My submission regarding "Changes to the Club Permit Scheme"
The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania has a dedicated following of over 900 members, of which 90% reside in Victoria. Members are car enthusiasts and come together for the practical, sporting and social aspects of owning a Mazda MX-5. The club encourages our members to be courteous and safe on the roads.
Since the first Mazda MX-5 became eligible for the Club Permit Scheme in October 2014, two hundred and seventy members have successfully applied for a Club Permit. Two hundred and fourteen of those Club Permits are still active within the club. No Club Permit application has been rejected or suspended by VicRoads during the past seven years. Since October 2015, the club has approved more than five hundred Club Permit Renewal Notices.
The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania would like to respond to the proposed changes to the Club Permit Scheme.
Introduce a definition of replica for eligibility into the scheme.
Require evidence to accompany applications for club permits.
Introduce new penalties for offences of general conditions and operating conditions of club permit.
The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania has a dedicated following of over 900 members, of which 90% reside in Victoria. Members are car enthusiasts and come together for the practical, sporting and social aspects of owning a Mazda MX-5. The club encourages our members to be courteous and safe on the roads.
Since the first Mazda MX-5 became eligible for the Club Permit Scheme in October 2014, two hundred and seventy members have successfully applied for a Club Permit. Two hundred and fourteen of those Club Permits are still active within the club. No Club Permit application has been rejected or suspended by VicRoads during the past seven years. Since October 2015, the club has approved more than five hundred Club Permit Renewal Notices.
The Club Permit Scheme has been an enormous success for our club members, and we wish to see more members take advantage of the scheme in the future.
The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania would like to respond to the proposed changes to the Club Permit Scheme.
Increase the age threshold for eligible vehicles from 25 years to 30 years.
- The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania Inc opposes this change, as it will unfairly disadvantage and disenfranchise club members. Many members have a Mazda MX-5 as an additional car, and the Club Permit Scheme makes owning the 'Weekend Roadster' more affordable. The cost of owning and registering a second car for this purpose can be prohibitive for many members. Members who would need to wait a further five years to be eligible for a Club Permit may find it necessary to sell their vehicles.
- The club believes that the desire to align the aged eligibility threshold to other jurisdiction is insufficient reasoning for making the change. There is little or no detail as to how this change could be implemented and how it would benefit participants in the scheme.
- This decision to extend the aged threshold eligibility will have a detrimental impact on our club's membership.
Introduce a definition of replica for eligibility into the scheme.
- The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania Inc does not expect to have any replicas registered on a Club Permit. As a result, this change would not impact our club.
Require evidence to accompany applications for club permits.
- The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania Inc has complied fully with the requirements of the scheme. We are diligent in our processing of any application to ensure our members comply with the scheme's requirements.
- Within reason, the club is supportive of changes in the evidence required to accompany an application. However, we would prefer that these changes do not produce an additional compliance burden on the club.
Introduce new penalties for offences of general conditions and operating conditions of club permit.
- The Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania Inc encourages all its members to fulfil their obligations under the scheme, including completing the necessary logbook entries.
- The club supports changes to penalties for breaches of the Club Permit use, including logbook infringements.
- Any increase to penalty fees should be reasonable and not excessive.