Official Information Request - abandoned/junk vehicles

Sent: Wednesday, 27 September 2023 10:23 am
Subject: Information request - abandoned/junk vehicles

I refer to your information request of 7 September 2023 as part of your research project to assist the Far North District Council in reducing the environmental impacts of abandoned/junk vehicles. Please find below responses to your requests:

• How many RFS’s (requests for service) for abandoned vehicles did your monitoring team receive each year for the 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 periods?
  2020/21 – 187 vehicles
  2021/22 – 130 vehicles
  2022/23 – 202 vehicles
• What are the current policies or initiatives to reduce the number of abandoned vehicles in your service area?
  Unless a reported vehicle poses a safety concern, or there is considered an increased risk of vandalism, vehicles reported as abandoned are often actioned after three days. This is due to observations that some of these vehicles do move on within this timeframe and are not abandoned despite being reported as such. There are currently no Council policies to reduce the number of abandoned vehicles.
• Has the monitoring team issued any nuisance notices or investigated abandoned vehicles on private land in the last year?
  Two Health Act notices have been issued in the last year that involved vehicles on private land.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response/decision. The Ombudsman’s Office can be contacted by calling 0800 802 602, emailing info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, online at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

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Regards