Connecting people & communities BERWICK
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Thursday, 20 February, 2014
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SPORT
Propertyy Lift out
By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
Big bikie raid 7,990
By LACHLAN MOORHEAD $21,990 ,990 16
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POLICE stormed the Hallam clubhouse of the Comancheros early on Wednesday morning in one of the biggest raids on bikies in the state. Over 570 police, including members from the Echo Taskforce, swooped on 63 clubhouses and $26 $26,990 ,990addresses from private 5.30am on Wednesday, in areas including Lysterfield, South Melbourne, Williamstown, Kilsyth, Fawkner, Frankston, Craigieburn and Hallam. Police raided Nitro Gym in Hallam during the crackdown. Mr Fontana said he had reason to $29,990 $29 ,990the Comancheros believe were plan-
12,990
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15,990
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ning retaliation for attacks on their $21,990 $24,990 premises last year, which police believe included Nitro Gym. “I understand that a couple of individuals are really dark on the fact that those attacks took place on their clubhouse and their premises and they want to retaliate,” Mr Fontana said. At,990 least 18 people$were arrested in $27 28,990 the raid which saw a number of firearms, tasers, ammunition, cash and a large quantity of steroids and fireworks seized. Mr Fontana said the Comancheros’ Victorian vice-president was among those arrested. $29 $30,990 ,990is about us, we’re “This not sitting
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back waiting for these groups to retal$26,990 iate again and cause risk to the public and to individuals or our members,” Mr Fontana said. “The Comancheros are in the top group of risks to this state, with the Hells Angels, the Rebels, the Mongols and the Bandidos. They’re going to$28 be the focus of our activities and we ,990 will be scaling up our resources.” Detective Superintendent Peter De Santo said with the significant seizures and arrests that Wednesday’s operation had been a success. “The aim of today’s operation was to investigate the supply and traffick,990 ing$31 of methamphetamines, trafficking
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of firearms, possession of explosives and other criminal activities and we’ve had great success in doing that,” Mr De Santo said. “While this has been a huge effort here in Victoria today, this issue crosses all jurisdictions and is having an impact nationally. “We are working closely with government and other states and taskforces to make sure we are taking a national approach to disrupting criminal OMCG activity. On Wednesday Nitro Gym promotions manager Mike Jones said the gym was not linked to the Comancheros.
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MAYOR Geoff Ablett is among four Casey Councillors to nominate for Liberal Party preselection ahead of November’s state election. After another round of nominations which closed on Friday, the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party announced that Crs Ablett and Gary Rowe had thrown their hats into the ring for pre-selection in the seat of Cranbourne. Deputy Mayor Amanda Stapledon, who ran as an Independent for Cranbourne in the 2010 state election, has also confirmed her nomination for the seat of Narre Warren North, while Cr Susan Serey confirmed her nomination for Narre Warren South. The Narre Warren seats are currently held by Labor MPs Luke Donnellan and Judith Graley respectively. This week Cr Wayne Smith said Cr Ablett should consider standing down from his role of mayor in the lead-up to the election if he is preselected for Cranbourne. “I don’t believe he (Mayor Ablett) should be in a position where he’s compromised,” Cr Smith said. “Geoff could be put in awkward position where he has to lobby the State Government on behalf of council when he also is being a candidate for the Liberal Party. “Who knows whether that will happen or not, and how Geoff will handle it, but there’s definitely potential for it to happen.” Last year Cr Smith also raised concerns about councillors in “top council leadership” also being parliamentary candidates. Cr Smith said he was against candidates “using the leadership roles of mayor and deputy mayor to advantage their parliamentary election prospects.” Mayor Ablett, who stood for Cranbourne in the 2010 state election, confirmed his 2014 nomination but Liberal Party rules restrict him from commenting further. Cr Gary Rowe, who was Cranbourne MP from 1992 to 2002, said he would continue to serve on council if he was pre-selected and would only stand down from his current role if he was elected. Milroy Martyn and Ali Khan have also nominated for the Liberal Party in the seat of Narre Warren North, while Marlon La Brooy and Mark Plosnic have nominated for Narre Warren South.
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LIFESTYLE THAT ENDEARS
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TWO Casey cheerleaders were jumping for joy this week as council pledged its support to the pair, who are both competing in the World Cheerleading Championship in the USA next month. Tayla Little (left), from Narre Warren and Claudia Warszawski, from Endeavour Hills, celebrated with Casey Councillor Rosalie Crestani on Tuesday.
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It’s two cheers for council
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February, 2014