City prosecutes Geraldton owner of ‘illegal car wrecking yard’

A residential property owner in Geraldton has been prosecuted for storing more than 20 unregistered or wrecked vehicles, as part of a council crackdown on illegal car wrecking sites.

City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said the owner had effectively been using the property as a wrecking yard.

The prosecution followed complaints from the public.

Mr McKim said the City was cracking down on illegal, dangerous and unsightly storage and dismantling of multiple vehicles on residential and rural residential land.

He said the storage of multiple vehicles on residential properties was an eye sore and posed a number of safety, environmental and public health concerns.

It also breached planning, development and building regulations.

“Vehicles, in any state of disrepair, stored on residential or rural residential land can seriously detract from the aesthetic value of neighbouring properties,” Mr McKim said.

“These vehicles are also a fire hazard, can release oils and other toxins into the ground, attract pests such as snakes and rats and are the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, as rainwater often pools inside vehicles with broken or missing windows.

“The City will work with residents to ensure that their residential areas and street scapes are maintained and are not degraded by inappropriate industrial or commercial type activity adversely impacting their lifestyle, the general amenity and diminishing the value of their homes.”