A burnt out car left in an Anna Bay cul-de-sac for a week has angered residents and raised questions about the process in removing them.
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Mick Lloyd was left furious when he was told by Port Stephens Council rangers that it would take “several weeks” to remove a burnt out Mitsubishi Lancer from the front of his Bellmount Close home.
“That’s really not good enough,” Mr Lloyd said. “It’s a high occupancy residential street, kids play in this cul-de-sac and the car is an eyesore.”
A spokesman from Port Stephens Council’s environmental health and compliance team said the council’s response when dealing with burnt out cars was limited by legislation.
“We understand that abandoned cars detract from the aesthetic of our streets, which is why we have strict processes in place to deal with the issue,” the spokesman said.
“However, the vehicle owner also needs to be given a reasonable amount of time to remove the vehicle or organise insurance before we impose a fine.”
He added that a vehicle may be impounded immediately if it is in a public place and causing an obstruction to traffic, or is likely to be a danger to the public.
In the case of the Bellmount Close car, the owner was issued a notification of intention to impound. It is up to the owner, either personally or through their insurer, to remove the car.
Mr Lloyd woke up about 3.30am on January 16 to find the car abandoned, alight and almost on his front lawn. He called firefighters and police immediately.
The next day he phoned Port Stephens Council asking when it would be removed. Mr Lloyd said he was told that it would take at least two weeks to do so, a response that left him “disappointed”.
“They [rangers] can fine you on the spot for putting rubbish out too early but when there’s a burnt out car in your street they say they can’t do anything for weeks,” Mr Lloyd said. “I don’t believe that’s good enough.”
Rangers from the council looked at the Lancer on Thursday, January 18 and put notification sticker on it indicating it would be impounded if not collected within seven days.
The spokesman said on Monday that the car would be removed this week if the owner did not do so in the meantime. It was collected from cul-de-sac on Tuesday afternoon, one week after it was left abandoned and burning.
The Lancer is not the only car to have been burnt out in Anna Bay in recent months. Around Christmas time a car was left burnt out on Birubi Beach near the surf house.
While this one was removed early in January, a second car burnt out left in the sand dunes further along the beach is still there.
The spokesman said it is important that people who find abandoned or burnt out vehicles notify the council as soon as possible so it can begin the removal process.
If the vehicle is not removed by the owner within a reasonable time frame, the council may deem it abandoned.
The council can then start the process to remove the abandoned vehicle under the Impounding Act 1993.
The owner of the vehicle must be notified in writing that the vehicle may be impounded unless it is removed within a specified period and may be destroyed if its value is less than $500.
This process generally takes seven to 14 days.
If the vehicle is not removed within the specified period, the owner may be fined $550 and the vehicle will be removed by the council. Impounding and holding fees may apply upon collection of the vehicle.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
