A City of Casey resident in Melbourne’s outer southeast has unloaded on the council for allegedly impounding his unregistered vehicles – but the local government tells a very different story.
In a post on Facebook, City of Casey resident ‘Rodney JT’ claimed the council had impounded a Holden Commodore ute and BMW 3 Series which were located on his property, because he did not have the required permits to store unregistered vehicles.
The City of Casey, Victoria’s most populous municipality with a population of about 400,000, requires residents to apply for a private land use permit if they plan to store more than two unregistered vehicles for up to 90 days, store long heavy vehicles, and even dismantle, repair or service vehicles.
Residents of the local government area, which takes in more than 400 square kilometres, must provide a site plan that illustrates where the activity will take place when filing for a permit.
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Rodney claims “Casey Council came onto our property in our backyard and impounded some of our cars” and added that the vehicles weren’t stolen or used for illegal activities, or being hooned on the property, but were instead just being stored there.
State MP Jeff Bourman also weighed in on the issue, criticising the council for the move.
However, a City of Casey spokesperson told CarExpert the council had contacted Rodney multiple times over a three-month period to resolve the matter, claiming the vehicles – and other items requiring permits – were not on his land.
“Council received community complaints relating to a property in Hampton Park of illegal sheds, unregistered vehicles, and multiple shipping containers,” the City of Casey told CarExpert.
“Officers attended and found the occupants of the property had been storing six unregistered vehicles, three shipping containers, multiple boats, jet skis and trailers on land adjoining their property.
“Council officers engaged with the occupants of the Hampton Park property and owners of the adjacent land to amicably resolve the situation.
“After three months of no action by either party to engage with council and remove the requested items, notices to comply were issued to both the occupants and the adjacent landowner to arrange for removal of the items.
“The owners of the adjacent land are responsible for the condition and amenity of their property. Subsequently, three unregistered vehicles were removed from the adjacent property.
“The owner of the vehicle can reclaim the vehicles by attending [the] council’s impound provider and paying the release fees.”
In the past five years, the City of Casey council says it has impounded vehicles from 10 private properties.
City of Casey has since clarified vehicle servicing doesn’t require a permit
As previously reported, applying for a permit costs $150 (a non-refundable sum which the City of Casey retains even if the application is unsuccessful), while the permit fee for storing three or more unregistered vehicles is $250.
The council’s original wording about the land use permits on its website was unclear, and included the requirement for a permit if residents wanted to dismantle, repair or service vehicles on private land “in circumstances where the activity or use is detrimental to the amenity of the area in which the private land is located”.
It has subsequently clarified this doesn’t extend to “completing minor repairs on your car on your private property, such as an oil change, belt change or water refill”.
The City of Casey requires permit applications to be received 14 days before the date for which the permit is needed.
After a permit application is lodged, it says it may contact residents if it requires more information or inspect their property, and that if the application is successful a permit will be issued within seven business days.
