Quick summary
After receiving complaints from the community, Council Officers investigated a property in Hampton Park relating to 6 unregistered vehicles, 3 shipping containers, multiple boats, jet skis and trailers that were owned by the occupant of the neighbouring property.
After investigating, Officers discovered that these items were being stored on the property without consent from the owner. The owner of the unregistered vehicles lived adjacent at a neighbouring property and was found to be storing items on land that they were not the owners of, and did not have the authority to use.
Council attempted to communicate and engage with both property owners for over three months without success.
Three unregistered vehicles were removed, one vehicle was moved back to the owner's property.
No vehicles were removed from the property of the vehicle owner, and officers did not enter the property of the vehicle owner.
The owner of the impounded items has been unwilling to engage and communicate with the landowners of the neighbouring property where the vehicles were being stored illegally.
The vehicle owner received numerous formal Notices to Comply prior to any vehicles being removed and received a formal Notice that provided details of the vehicles that were impounded and how they could be released.
We are aware that a member of the community has recently posted online regarding the removal of cars on a property.
We wanted to provide some information and clarification around this circumstance to reassure our community about Council's approach to local laws permits and private property.
In October 2024, Council received community complaints relating to a property in Hampton Park. Officers visited the location and found six unregistered vehicles, three shipping containers, multiple boats, jet skis and trailers that were owned by the occupant of the neighbouring property.
These items were being stored on the property without consent from the owner.
Council officers attempted to engage with both property owners for over three months (from October 2024 to February 2025). Having failed to engage, and rectify the matter, a number of Notices to Comply were issued to arrange removal of the items.
After three months of limited activity from the vehicle owner, Council Officers entered the property to remove the items. Three unregistered vehicles were removed and one vehicle was moved back to the owner's property. The owner of the unregistered vehicles was found to be storing items on land that they were not the owners of, and did not have the authority to use.
No vehicles were removed from the property of the vehicle owner, and Officers did not enter the property of the vehicle owner.
We understand there has been confusion around the use of Council's local laws permit. We want to reassure our community that these permits are in place with the aim and intention to protect the local amenity, and the peace and wellbeing of our community.
Our approach to these matters begins when community members submit complaints regarding concerns of local amenity - as was the case in this example.
Local laws in Victoria, including Local Law Permits, have been around since the Local Government Act 1989 was passed. These permits are not unique to Casey and are commonly used right across local councils in Victoria. In the last five years Council has impounded vehicles from only 10 private properties.
