A van similar to the one destroyed by council.

A van similar to the one destroyed by Brisbane City Council.

The organisers of an upcoming art exhibition have demanded compensation from Brisbane City Council for the destruction of a caravan that was supposed to be the event's centrepiece.

Trailer Trash project organiser Trevor Topfer said council officers had removed the caravan from a local bridge club's carpark at the Yeronga Park in November, even though club officials had given him permission to leave it there overnight. 

Labor opposition councillor Helen Abrahams said the fact the van was destroyed within 24 hours of its removal was "extraordinary".

Mr Topfer said the previous owners of the 28-foot tri-axle caravan had a permit to tow it from the Darling Downs to Brisbane on November 9, but the holding yard where it was to be stored had closed by the time they delivered it.

Mr Topfer said rather than parking the van in front of his Annerley house, he spoke to the Brisbane Bridge Centre in Frederick Street about leaving it there for one night.

When he returned the next morning to pick up the caravan, it was gone.

Mr Topfer said he had had trouble finding out details about the van's destruction but was angry the council had made no attempt to contact the owner beforehand.

"We believe we acted appropriately, we tried to do the right thing and not leave it it on the road in front of my house," he said.

"We were shocked."

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's media officers did not return calls seeking comment on the issue yesterday.

However, Cr Abrahams said she supported calls for the caravan's owners to be compensated.

"Most importantly, for council to seize something and to destroy it in less than 24 hours is extraordinary, when people in Brisbane know it could take some weeks to get other issues resolved such as a sign to be replaced," she said.

"I do believe if they [the council] wanted to remove it, that's fair enough, but to not give any time for someone to say 'that's my caravan' is inappropriate."

Mr Topfer said it would cost about $9000 to replace the caravan, which was meant to play host to artists during the Trailer Trash art installation and music party next week.

One of the event's other organisers, Joshua Collings, said the compensation demands had so far been unsuccessful.

Mr Collings, who was embroilled in a public spat with Cr Newman last month over a 'Vandal Newman' mural above his Woolloongabba art gallery, said the pair planned to complain to the state ombudsman.