Vehicle recovery wrapping up

Last updated 13:39 19/04/2011

 

The Christchurch CBD vehicle recovery operation will wrap-up tonight.

Police have said the recovery team would "no longer be actively recovering vehicles" left in the CBD on the day of the February earthquake.

The tents used as a team base are being taken down today.

Senior Sergeant Graham Reeves says the team of police and Civil Defence light rescue personnel had done "everything possible" to recover vehicles.

Inland Revenue Department staff had volunteered their time to help answer calls and assist with the reconciliation of vehicles and owners.

In total 5548 had been recovered from the central city. Another 40 were at Hagley Park awaiting collection by their owners.

Owners need to collect their vehicles from the Hagley Park site (entrance off Armagh St) before 6pm today or by midday tomorrow.

After this time any remaining vehicles will be towed to a secure storage facility, the details of which will be confirmed soon.

Police have also identified 20 vehicles that could not be extracted due to inaccessibility or damage.

One crushed vehicle was today recovered from the Pyne Gould Corporation (PGC) site.

"We're really pleased that with the help of engineers and others so many vehicles have been recovered and returned to owners," Reeves said.

"It's been tough for owners who were without their cars, so it's been very rewarding for us to bring some smiles to people's faces."

A small team will continue to operate from the central police station in the next few weeks to handle any queries from the public about  vehicle recovery.

They can be contacted on (03) 363 7400) or via the email address chchvehiclerecovery@police.govt.nz.