Rules Changing if Wanting to Close a Road for Motorsport
To help ensure public safety the rules for obtaining a road closure for a motorsport event are changing.
From 1 November 2008, Council’s Policy (Temporary Road Closures and Events on Roads) will require all motorsport events organisers to become affiliated members of Motorsport New Zealand.
Council has resolved to change the policy and over the next six months will be letting people know about the change to allow them time to seek affiliation.
“Franklin is a popular location for holding motorsport events and when the event is going to be held on a road controlled by Council a Temporary Road Closure is required. Over time Council has felt there is more that we can do to ensure that Temporary Road Permits are only issued to those who meet best safety practices. Motorsport New Zealand affiliation helps offer Council that assurance,” says Franklin District Council’s Principal Advisor: Strategic Policy, Phyllis Anscombe.
Motorsport New Zealand has strict safety requirements that event organisers have to comply with to gain their endorsement. To help event organisers meet these requirements, Motorsport New Zealand offers assistance with putting together a Safety Management Plan, guidelines and additional standards for driver and vehicle safety, technical specifications, accreditation, training and compliance to further promote safety at motorsport events.
Motorsport event organisers operating an event on private property such as a paddock race will not be required to affiliate to MSNZ as the event is not run on a road controlled by Council.
Council is not supporting Motorsport New Zealand to the exclusion of any other body. For this reason the Customer Services Manager may, upon receiving written application from the event organiser, grant an exemption/waiver from the requirement to be affiliated to MSNZ where the event organiser can demonstrate they are current members of a motorsport body of similar standing to Motorsport New Zealand, overseas.