General News
16 October, 2024
Clock's ticking to clean up fire-ravaged car yard: council
Mount Isa City Council has given the owner 30 days to clean up the site in Healy.
The owner of an industrial estate that was engulfed by flames last month has been given 30 days to clear the area of hundreds of burnt-out cars, oil drums and debris.
Mount Isa City Council CEO Tim Rose said the council had reached an agreement with owner James Graham to have the area cleared within the next month.
Mr Rose said the property owner would be responsible for the expense of the clean-up within his property boundaries.
He said the council would take over the clean-up effort if Mr Graham failed to complete the task within the agreed timeframe, which would then be charged to his next rates bill.
Mr Rose said the council was currently seeking quotes for the clearing of an easement along the side and rear of the property that was state government land.
“We are having conversations with the property owner about how to remove the cars and debris from his area – we are trying to help him but ultimately he is responsible for cleaning up his own property,” Mr Rose said.
“If he complies and does everything that is expected then we won’t put any infringement notices on him.”
The fire, suspected of being deliberately lit by others, spread from the nearby riverbed across the five-acre property on Duchess Road on September 12, leaving the car wrecker’s yard in ruins.
Fortunately, there was no damage to the house at the property.
Following the fire, the council’s environmental officers conducted an investigation into potential contaminants at the property after firefighters reported there were chemical bottles and drums stacked inside vehicles that caused explosions and safety concerns.
Mr Rose said the council report was “inconclusive” about any chemicals – with only traces of battery acid, fluorocarbons and “potential asbestos” located at the property.
WRECKER COMMITS TO REMOVING BURNT-OUT CARS
Radcore Wrecker’s owner James Graham said he was in discussions with scrap metal recyclers to clean up his fire-ravaged property and expected work to begin shortly.
He disputed claims he stored chemicals at the property, claiming any explosions were caused only from the release of pressure from 44-gallon oil drums with tightened lids on to keep rainwater out.
The 75-year-old, who has lived at the Duchess Road property for almost 50 years and had operated the wrecker’s business on the land since 1988, said he was also frustrated by repeated social media commentary about the condition of his property.
“There are a lot of people that don’t even know if the sun is out today – yet they are talking about my situation when they wouldn’t know anything,” he told North West Weekly.
Mr Graham said more than 75 per cent of his five-acre property had been ravaged by fire, with hundreds of cars destroyed.
“I was sitting in my house watching television and I heard a pop and another pop – I went outside to see what the noise was, and the firefighters were already here,” he said.
“How do you think I feel? I lost 35 years of my life in a few hours because a couple of kids wanted to play with matches behind my place. I am not going to get much (money) for any of it (the cars) – I am not interested anyway – I just want it all gone.
“It all has to go – the cars are burnt out, so they are no use to me.”
“Once the yard is cleaned out all the stuff on the easement will go onto my property.”