Rallying to clear cars
ONE humble man will lead a small army of volunteers to clean up the wrecks of burntout and stolen cars ruining the bush and waterways.
Fed-up environmentalist Dave Dudley believes some of the cars may have been stolen, but wants them all cleaned up so people can enjoy the outdoors.
“We’re not going into private development sites, it’s stuff (places) the public access,” he said.
“I’m trying to get stuff out of areas that flooded and ended up in the ocean.”
Mr Dudley, the founder of the Townsville Illegal Dumping Yobo’s Cleanups Facebook group, said many people thought it was Townsville City Council’s responsibility to remove wrecks but he believed everyone should take responsibility.
“The council is behind us but what I want is to get everyone involved. It’s all our backyard, we all live here,” he said.
Mr Dudley is rallying a group of volunteers armed with four-wheel drives, skips and cranes.
Next month they will head into bushland to recover more wrecks. He is calling on 4WD drivers to test their skills and help move the stricken wrecks from around Saunders Beach, the Port Access Rd and Bushland Beach to the roadside where they will be cleaned up.
“I don’t want to leave them lying about on the roadside for weeks, which makes people upset,” he said.
The council does have the power to remove abandoned vehicles from roads, parks or other council-managed land.
Abandoned vehicles that have been in the same location for an unusual length of time, are inoperable or don’t display valid registration plates should be reported to the council’s customer service centre on 13 48 10.
A local contractor is used for police tows, such as seizing vehicles for evidence, mechanical inspections or stolen cars.
The owners of stolen cars can use their own towing services.