NEWS DESK Police patrol
With Stephen Taylor
Blood on the tracks THREE men who allegedly bashed an older man walking near Bittern railway tracks are being sought by Hastings police. Senior Constable Lauren Coster said the men were skylarking on the tracks in a white Nissan Patrol when it became stuck near Moreton Crescent, midday, Thursday 30 May. As they tried to winch the vehicle free the older man approached and commented and an argument started. One of the younger men allegedly punched him to the head, knocking him down and causing pain, lacerations and swelling to his face. The alleged attacker is described as having fair skin, 183cm tall, stocky build and blond beard. He was wearing a half-length Driza-Bone jacket. Anyone with information is urged to call Senior Constable Coster 5970 7800.
Run late, walk home A SEAFORD motorcyclist caught riding on Thompsons Road, Bangholme, at 133kph in an 80 zone told police he was running late to meet motorcyclist mates. The 49-year-old had his Suzuki DL1000 (left) impounded for 30 days and then walked home, 1.30pm, Sunday 9 June.
P-plater fined, loses car
School break-in OFFENDERS forced their way through a wire mesh fence and into a large storage container on the grounds of Hastings Primary School, overnight Sunday 9 June. Detective Senior Sergeant Allan Paxton, of Somerville CIU, said the thieves rifled through tool boxes before stealing power tools and gardening equipment. They then stole a wheelbarrow to carry the items along Hodgins Road. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Paxton 5978 1300 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Costly mistake A YOUNG speedster nabbed at 160kph in a 100kph zone at Dromana has had his car impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1280. The 18-year-old Capel Sound P1 licence-holder is also expected to be charged on summons with
A P-PLATER from Frankston caught speeding at 126kph in an 80kph zone on Cranbourne Road, Langwarrin, 8pm, Sunday 9 June, allegedly initially gave police a false name
and address and then blew 0.118 per cent. The 32-year-old man’s licence was suspended and his car impounded (left) at a cost of $961. He is expected to be charged on summons.
‘Rush’ proved costly A 20-year-old P-plater from Mornington caught speeding at 141kph on Peninsula Link, Mt Martha, 5am, Monday 10 June, told police he was rushing to a mate’s place. He later blew 0.062 per cent; was fined $1088 and lost his licence for six months.
Struck out THE driver of a ute (bottom left) pulled over by Somerville Highway Patrol in Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville, 9.35am, Sunday 9 June, kept police busy writing down charges. They included driving at 76kph in a 60kph zone, driving with a cancelled registration, testing positive to methyl-amphetamine, refusing to undergo an oral fluid drug test and not having an alcohol interlock device fitted as required. The 39-year-old Bittern man’s car was impounded for 30 days and he will be summonsed to appear at court at a later date.
Rye round up A HOON driver allegedly doing late-night burnouts in Rye last week later blew over the legal blood alcohol limit and had his car impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1010. Rosebud police saw the man’s white Holden ute as they turned the corner into Johnson Avenue, 11.50pm, Saturday 8 June. They said the driver parked and started walking away before being stopped for the breath test: he blew 0.171 per cent. Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said the man’s P1 licence was suspended and he will be charged on summons with drink driving and traffic-related offences.
driving at a dangerous speed and exceeding the speed limit. A major collision investigation unit officer on his way home intercepted the man’s white Mazda ute on Mornington Peninsula Freeway, 8.20pm, Sunday 9 June. Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said impounding the car was part of Operation Regal, a four-day high visibility road policing operation over the Queen’s birthday long weekend. It targeted impaired driving, increased traffic on rural roads, towing trailers and caravans, and trail bike riding in state forests and parks.
Shire to refund parking fine issued in error A FINE issued to a boatie parked at Rye boat ramp was a mistake, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill has conceded. “The error was made by a local laws officer and it will be quickly sorted out,” Cr Gill said. The $81 fine for supposedly “failing to pay a fee and obey instructions on a sign” drew scorn from Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer. (“Fine adds to boat ramp confusion” The News 21/5/19). It followed a statement by Cr Gill that the shire had stopped processing boat ramp fees. Mr Kramer said “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing when it comes to the shire charging boat ramp fees. This is just unacceptable in this day and age of technology for shire officers to be handing out fines”.
Also, over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend a 33-year-old Derrimut man was intercepted on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, Dromana, 9.15am, Sunday 9 June. He told police he had been at a buck’s party the night before and had stopped drinking at 1am. He thought he’d “be right to drive home” by 9am but then blew 0.172 per cent. The man’s licence was suspended and his car impounded for $1280. He took a taxi home and is expected to be charged on summons.
At that time Cr Gill said the issuing of the fine was probably caused by uncertainty over the state government’s “ill-thought promise to take over the management of the peninsula’s boat ramps” made on Channel 31’s “Talking Fishing” TV show in the lead-up to the November state election. The promise has since undermined the council’s capacity to charge parking fees and issue fines until management of the launching ramps is taken over by the new Better Boating Fund in spring. (“Spring takeover for boat ramps” The News 5/6/19). The state budget included $47.2 million to “work with local councils ... to abolish boat ramp parking and launching fees, upgrade boating infrastructure and boost safety”.
Town sign’s no-litter message RYE’S colourful town sign – which displays some of the myriad marine creatures found in that part of Port Phillip – aims to alert visitors to the consequences of littering. Rye Community Group Alliance hopes the new sign will raise awareness of the need to protect the underwater wonderland and get people to think about what happens to their rubbish if they don’t dispose of it responsibly. Financed by a Keep Victoria Beautiful grant, the image was created by Rye Citizen of the Year Josie Jones using input from residents and grade 1-2 children from Rye Primary School. Graphic Image Signs put it all together. Litter opponents face a daunting challenge: Participants in the recent Seaside Scavenge picked up 843kg rubbish in three hours – most of it plastic. “Every month, Rye Beach Patrol 3941 picks up other people’s rubbish as do large numbers of daily walkers along the beach and foreshore,” the alliance’s Mechelle Cheers said.
“The Rye community is doing its best to stop rubbish getting into the bay, but something has to be done about the [behaviour of] visitors. “Residents want them to consider what they are doing and simply do the right thing and put their rubbish in the bin. It's not a big ask: Binning it is the best way to protect marine ecosystems and stop plastic from getting into the food chain.”
Our Emergency Assistance Package provides support for eligible regional customers and businesses affected by natural disasters. It’s just the start. Better for you. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124.
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Southern Peninsula News 19 June 2019