Gold Coast City Council to remove abandoned ute at Miami beach, Gold Coast

Talk about an extended car wash. An abandoned ute bobbing around in the surf for four days and counting at a popular Gold Coast beach will finally be retrieved. But who will foot the bill?

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

The car, 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 concerned 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?”

Miami locals aren’t happy that council has left it sitting there. Picture: Sam Stolz

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.”

It will be a tricky job to retrieve it, according to towing experts. Picture: Sam Stolz

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.

Locals were concerned about leaking fuel, oil and coolant from the wreckage. Picture: Sam Stolz

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said the local government organisation would not divulge the cost of recovering the ute.

The vehicle was not reported as stolen, according to police.

Dude, where’s my car? Ute owner told to pull wreckage out himself

September 6: The owner of a tradie ute found washed up in the surf at a popular Gold Coast beach has been told by police he has to foot the bill for retrieving the wreckage himself.

The vehicle – with its trade tools and ladders still attached – was spotted by locals near Miami headland early on Sunday.

The ute remains in the briny deep. Picture: Glenn Hampson

But despite both police and council being alerted to the car then, it was still bobbing in the drink as of Tuesday afternoon.

Onlookers at the scene on Tuesday said they were shocked the car was still in the surf.

“It’s a major hazard and is probably spilling fuel everywhere,” a woman said.

Another said it would be a costly exercise to get the ute removed as “it doesn’t look like a regular towing job”.

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said it was similar if a houseboat had sunk and was the “owner’s responsibility”.

Police said the owner of the vehicle has not been charged but investigations are ongoing.

’You can’t park there’: Tradie’s ute ends up in the drink

September 4: A ute has been found floating in the drink at a popular Gold Coast beach.

The work ute – with its trade tools and ladders still attached – was spotted by Miami locals near Miami headland early on Sunday.

Picture: Mark Wilson

It is not yet understood how the vehicle ended up in the surf.

Residents took to Facebook to share the photo and weigh in on the wash up.

A parking space with a view. Picture: Facebook.

“You can’t park there, very shellfish”, Nathan Baber wrote.

Lucy Jean said: “What yellow line?”

“Anyone check to see if there may actually be someone inside camping out, potentially?,” Camelia Marchesi said.

Some users suggested the vehicle may have been stolen with one person saying: “Poor guy, us tradies can’t work without our car and tools. Hope he gets back on track ASAP.”

Mark Wilson wrote: “Feel shattered for the old mate that owns this rig. #happyfathersday”.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing as to how the vehicle ended up in the surf.

Gold Coast City Council assisted police on scene to move the vehicle.

Originally published as Gold Coast City Council to remove abandoned ute at Miami beach, Gold Coast