IT IS an unwanted guest and eye-sore which has lain abandoned on the Queensland-New South Wales border for more than two-weeks.

This maroon, Hyundai-sedan has been repeatedly vandalised at Chris Cunningham Park near Jack Evans Boat Harbour since its owner was involved an accident nearby.

Big Trev’s Watersports’ Trevor Arbon said the car was involved in an accident with a local harbour swimmer, Ross and his wife Ruth.

“He hit one of the older guys’ cars and now it’s just sitting there being vandalised,” Mr Arbon said.

“I’ve talked to both council and police about it, and I’ve seen them checking it out.”

A council spokeswoman said the car was registered and thus not technically abandoned and the owner – who speaks broken English and is from Sydney – was solving insurance problems.

“Abandoned vehicles are normally removed within three-days but in case such as this, council shows some leniency to allow the owner time to remove the vehicle,” the spokesperson said.

“The owner was sent a letter on April 15 saying he had until April 24 to remove the vehicle (so) the car will most likely be impounded by Council next week if it is not removed.”

Mr Arbon said Ross’s car “got trashed” but was back on the road while the abandoned vehicle remained beside the park with the “windscreen smashed and the roof jumped on”.

“I’ve seen the owner a couple of times.

“He was hanging around for the first couple of days, and I thought he might’ve been living in it.

“It looked ridiculous when it first happened; there was smoke billowing out of it.

“It should be moved, but I don’t know what’s happening with it, and it’s not a good look.”

The spokesperson said the Impounding Act 1993 allowed the council to impound vehicles and, if its value was less than $500, destroy it.

“To abandon a motor vehicle in a public place is an infringement under the Impounding Act 1993, which Tweed Shire Council enforces through the State Debt Recovery Office’s Self Enforcing Infringement Notice System.

“This situation is a little unusual, however the issue of abandoned vehicles is an issue around the shire, as it is in other local areas and is a cost to ratepayers,” she said.