The Queenstown Lakes District Council is giving notice to the owners of cars for sale on Stanley Street that the vehicles will be towed at the owners cost.

"We have had a number of complaints about the impromptu car yard that lines Stanley Street in the vicinity of the Millennium Hotel," QLDC Wakatipu operations manager Greg Stewart said.

The line-up of vehicles to be sold, encouraged the flow of traffic to slow, stop and in some cases double park on the state highway.

"Clearly the practice is creating an untenable traffic hazard," Mr Stewart said.

Under Section 164 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Council had the power to seize and impound property, located in the public domain.

"In the first instance we plan to place a warning notice on the vehicles. That will state that the vehicle will be towed away at the owners cost, unless removed within 24-hours," Mr Stewart said.

Under the Act, the Council was required to return the vehicle to the owner, if it was satisfied the vehicle would not be involved in the same offence, and if the owner paid the cost of the seizure.

People needed to consider alternative solutions for selling their vehicles.

"There is no law against advertising the car in a local newspaper or placing it on a local notice board," Mr Stewart said.

ENDS

For more information please contact Greg Stewart 03 441 0499.

By: Tamah