By Alesha Capone
An average of more than 110 requests to deal with abandoned vehicles are being lodged with Wyndham council every month.
Wyndham’s director of city operations, Stephen Thorpe, said the council received 1369 calls, emails and alerts about abandoned vehicles in the 12 months to June 30, 2021.
Point Cook recorded the most abandoned vehicles requests (282), followed by Werribee (241), Tarneit (238), Truganina (210) and Hoppers Crossing (131).
Mr Thorpe said that in 2019-20, the council received 1469 requests to deal with derelict vehicles.
“Unregistered, abandoned and derelict vehicles parked on the road can impede traffic flow, block sightlines for drivers and pedestrians, and take up parking spaces that could be used by registered vehicles,” Mr Thorpe said.
He said council officers followed up on reports of abandoned vehicles.
“If the vehicle is unregistered, a yellow sticker is placed on the front windscreen – this sticker means we consider the vehicle to be abandoned or derelict,” Mr Thorpe said.
“If the owner does not take action after a yellow sticker is placed on the vehicle, the abandoned vehicle may be towed away and impounded by council.”
He said that under the local government act, councils have the power to tow unregistered or abandoned vehicles away from public land, such as streets and nature strips.
“Owners of impounded vehicles are required to pay fees in order to reclaim their vehicle,” Mr Thorpe said
While the council does not have the authority to remove abandoned vehicles from private land, it can order residents or land owners to do take action on the issue.
“If unregistered, abandoned, or derelict vehicles on private land cause the property to be considered unsightly, under the Community Amenity Local Law, council can direct the property owner to remove the vehicles,” Mr Thorpe said.
“If you notice a vehicle left for an extended amount of time in the street, nature strip or council reserve and you believe that it is either unregistered or abandoned, contact www.wyndham.vic.gov.au or call 1300 023 411.”
