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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (23 October) . . Page.. 4084 ..


Motor vehicles-wreck removals

(Question No 926)

Mr Cornwell

asked the Minister for Urban Services, upon notice:

In relation to recent media reports of wrecks of motor vehicles in ACT front yards and upon nature strips:

Who is responsible for such vehicles upon nature strips and under what circumstances can they be removed without owner's permission;

What control does the government have to require owners of such vehicles-or other debris-to remove them from front yards.

Mr Wood

: The answer to the member's question is as follows:

The City Rangers respond to reports of unregistered vehicles being stored or abandoned on public land, including nature strips. If the current or last known owner can be located, they are given seven days to remove the vehicle. If the vehicle has not been removed after that time, or in the case where an owner cannot be located, the vehicle is removed by a contractor. In the case where an owner has been located but has not removed the vehicle, the cost of removal by contractor is passed on to the owner.

The ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) has the authority to issue orders for the clean up of leased land. To enforce an order, ACTPLA also has the authority to clean up land, including the removal of derelict motor vehicles, and to charge the costs of the clean up to the owner or occupier of the land, and/or prosecute the offender in the Courts. Under stronger compliance powers that commenced on 1 September 2003, ACTPLA can now issue Rectification notices with a timeframe of 7 days to complete works and, where this notice is not complied with, an infringement notice can be issued imposing a fine of not less than $1,000. A Rectification notice can also allow the costs of a clean up to be applied as an encumbrance on the title to the land where the lessee is the offender and is unable to pay.

Water restrictions

(Question No 927)

Mr Cornwell

asked the Treasurer, upon notice:

Concerning penalties for breaching water restrictions, upon notice, effective 1 October 2003:

Will penalties be imposed upon:

Public schools;

Parkland administrators;

Public housing tenants;

In the event water restrictions are breached by private tenants who is responsible for paying the fine, the tenant or the landlord.


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