Sarah Oliver
A burnt out car that has been sitting next to an exercise track in Melton for six weeks will be removed by council this week.
Residents who live near the wreck and who frequent the path and nearby playground at Chesney Road, say they have been met with silence from council since the car caught fire on September 27.
Residents including Halina Gasperowicz and Ian Taylor, said they contacted Melton council multiple times to get the wreck removed, but were told council was “looking into it”.
“We have the right to have it removed,” Ms Gasperowicz said.
Mr Taylor said he was awoken by a noise outside his property on the night of the fire and noticed “quite a big flame” coming from a car, which then burnt some of the lower branches of a tree the car sat under.
“The hot embers from the tree were flying around which was a concern for us nearby,” Mr Taylor said.
He said police and Fire Rescue Victoria were called to attend the scene.
Melton community safety manager Phil Lovelace said there were delays in removing the vehicle due to a miscommunication.
“The original report to council was for a vehicle on Chesney Road, rather than the reserve behind the road, which caused some delays in locating and removing the vehicle,” Mr Lovelace said.
“Local safety and amenity is important to us, and we apologise that on this occasion there was a delay.”
