Council to retrieve Miami ute

COUNCIL is set to retrieve an abandoned ute that has been stranded off a popular Gold Coast beach for days – despite police saying the owner has to foot the bill and organise removal himself.

The car (pictured), which was driven and bogged in the shallows before dawn on Sunday, has been overturned by waves and faced a battering on the rocks.

Some locals joked the bobbing wreckage, due to be removed Thursday, was Miami’s “new artificial dive-site”.

However, others raised concerns about environmental impacts.

On Facebook, Karen Louise Halliday wrote: “Ridiculous it’s still there. Surely GC council could remove it and pass the costs on. How much petrol, oil and other car fluids would now be in the ocean?”

Tracy Wilson said: “I cannot believe they (council) left it in there.”

Kim Lane wrote: “Council is too busy booking owners because their dogs are off the leash. Don’t worry about the ute and our environment. Just saying.”

Tony Clarke asked: “Why have the council allowed this vehicle to bob around in the surf for three days. I’m sure if I went and parked my car on the beach, the council would be straight around, firstly to fine us and then to tow it.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson told the Bulletin on Tuesday the ute owner was responsible for retrieving the vehicle – and would have to pay for the job.

A spokesperson from Clayton Towing, who specialise in difficult towing jobs, said a similar retrieval operation would cost more than $3000.

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson would not divulge the cost of recovering the ute. The vehicle was not reported as stolen, according to police.