Recovering the cost of abandoned vehicles

From City Scene, published on 2 September, 2007

Last year the Local Government Amendment Act 1992 changed to allow territorial authorities to recover costs connected with abandoned vehicles. Such vehicles present a safety risk and an environmental hazard. In August, Auckland City Council started invoicing the last registered owners of abandoned vehicles. This is to help recover costs associated with removing and disposing of vehicles found on council-owned properties and streets, and help remind people to ensure that current ownership documentation is up to date. Parking contracts manger Raymond Siddalls says about 400 abandoned vehicles are reported in Auckland city each month, with the council spending about $250,000 a year removing and disposing of them. "The worst case scenario is when vehicles are abandoned off cliffs and the council has to hire helicopters to remove them at a cost of $10,000. We hope this law change will make people more responsible for their actions," he says.