DIVERS have removed the corroded remains of two cars from the water in Tweed Heads South.

The cars were removed from Terranora Creek near the boat ramp on Dry Dock Rd. A Tweed Shire Council spokesman said they received reports from NSW Maritime and police there were two cars in the water.

“They've been there for a while,” he said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said police passed the matter on to the council when they hit a dead end.

“Police were alerted to the vehicles on August 3 by Waterways,” she said.

“Police have been unable to identify the vehicles since they are in poor condition as a result of being under water.”

Gilbert Divers diver supervisor Tyler Gilbert estimated the cars had been submerged for at least five years.

“We had the lip bags because we thought the cars would be intact,” he said.

Mr Gilbert said the extent of the damage meant the operation was more difficult expected.

“We do a lot of salvages, the councils often call us,” he said.

“We used slings and wires ... the first car came out in one whole piece.”

But Mr Gilbert said the second came out in two pieces.

“We were there a day-and-a-half to two days,” he said.

“(The cars were) probably about 30 metres downstream from the bridge (and) 15 metres to 20 metres out from the river bank.”

Mr Gilbert said it was one of the nicer places in which to work.

“The Tweed River gets nice and clear, especially at high tide.”

He said there were more cars under water nearby.

“There's heaps at the Cobaki Bridge ... the whole river needs a good clean up.”