Abandoned and Impounded Vehicles
Port Augusta City Council investigates abandoned vehicles on public roads and Council land in accordance with the powers contained in Section 237(2) under the Local Government Act 1999.
What is an abandoned vehicle?
A vehicle may be considered abandoned if it appears to have been discarded or left in a public place and cannot be linked to an owner.
A vehicle that is legally parked, even if it is unused or belongs to a nearby resident, is not necessarily abandoned.
Unregistered vehicles
Council is unable to investigate unregistered vehicles under the relevant legislation. Concerns about unregistered vehicles should be reported to SA Police on 131 444.
How Council investigates
If a vehicle appears abandoned, Council officers may:
- Inspect the vehicle and location.
- Check registration and ownership details.
- Place a warning notice on the vehicle.
- Arrange for the vehicle to be removed and impounded if it remains unclaimed.
Report an abandoned vehicle
To help Council investigate, provide:
- Registration number, if visible
- Make, model and colour
- Location of the vehicle
- How long it has been there
Impounded vehicles
The owners of impounded vehicles will need to provide proof of ownership to council.
All outstanding fees and expiations will need to be paid in full before the vehicle is released to them.
To organise the release of the vehicle and to calculate the outstanding fees, please contact the Port Augusta City Council in advance by phoning 8641 9100 before attending Council’s Customer Service desk at the Civic Centre 4 Mackay Street, Port Augusta.
Sale of impounded vehicles
All unclaimed vehicles will be sold by tender, and a notice providing details of the vehicles to be sold will be placed on social media and in the Transcontinental Newspaper a fortnight before each sale.