Abandoned cars left at shopping complex, airport carparks
A vehicle that’s been left to gather dust in a Brisbane city shopping centre car park for several years has racked up a staggering parking fee.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A 1990s-era vehicle that has been left to gather dust in an inner-city shopping centre car park in Brisbane for several years has racked up a staggering parking fee.
A Nissan Maxima 30G has remained parked in the top level of the multi-level car park of the Uptown shopping complex, which is located at the top of the Queen Street Mall, for several years.
It is understood that the now unregistered vehicle was abandoned in the pay-on-exit car park in 2022.
It appears that there has been no effort by the owner to remove the vehicle which is covered in dust, as well as fingerprint inscriptions and marks.
A significant amount of dust and dirt has also accumulated underneath the vehicle.
The vehicle has been there for so long that when it was initially parked there the shopping complex was known as The Myer Centre, before it was rebranded to Uptown in 2023, following the closure of the Myer department store.
If the daily parking rate of $68 is applied from January 1, 2022, to the present day, the owner of the vehicle would be required to pay an estimated parking fee totalling $75,616 (as of January 17, 2025).
Considering the current market value of a 1990s-era Nissan Maxima 30G, which is between $3,740 and $5,500 according to CarsGuide, the estimated parking fee is more than 13 times the estimated value of the vehicle.
It is understood that abandoned vehicles parked in private parking facilities can’t be moved without the permission of the owner and until six months after the registration of the vehicle has expired.
Rather than paying the parking fee owed, instead it is likely the owner of the vehicle would be charged a release fee to remove the vehicle from the car park.
A Mazda sedan has also been seemingly abandoned in a parking complex near the Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal.
The vehicle with no number plates, a missing window on one side, dented panels and covered in dust was deserted on level two of the short-term parking facility.
It is understood the Mazda was driven into the car park in November 2023 with the owner of the vehicle racking up an estimated parking fee of $6500.
The vehicle has since been moved to the abandoned car holding area at the airport.
Last year, there were around 50 cars abandoned in Brisbane Airport’s carparks.
“Every year, a number of vehicles are abandoned, often by tourists who finish their lap around Queensland, park their car and jump on an overseas flight, never to return,” a Brisbane Airport spokesman said.
“Frequently the registration has lapsed, and the vehicles are in poor condition.
“Our parking team make every effort to locate owners.
“Over the course of a year, if these efforts are unsuccessful, abandoned cars are sold in compliance with strict government regulations.
“Any money remaining after fees are deducted goes to the Commonwealth.”
According to Brisbane City Council, an abandoned vehicle is considered a vehicle that has been left for more than 24 hours in a parking bay where the time for a vehicle to remain parked is limited, is parked for more than seven days in a parking bay where the time a vehicle may remain parked is not limited, and is unregistered.
According to the Queensland Government, towing operators who remove vehicles from private property must have authority from the owner or occupier to tow vehicles from the property.
Before reporting an abandoned vehicle, members of the public are urged to check if it’s on a council or state-operated road.
To report an abandoned, unregistered vehicle on a council road, members of the public are urged to contact their local council.
If an abandoned unregistered vehicle is reported, the council will try to find the owner.
If no owner claims the vehicle, the council will remove it.
If a vehicle is registered and is not parked illegally or dangerously, it won’t be considered abandoned.
More Coverage
Originally published as Abandoned cars left at shopping complex, airport carparks
Alleged drug trafficker’s bail denied over violent response to son’s pub punch-up
An alleged Sunshine Coast drug trafficker has been denied bail after he was allegedly captured in recorded prison phone calls threatening violence in response to an attack on his son, a court has heard.
Fears person missing in Townsville floodwaters
Multiple rescue crews are involved in a major search in extremely adverse conditions after reports an elderly woman was seen slipping into murky floodwaters.