Connecting people and communities Melton Tuesday, 18 March, 2014
Incorporating Star Real Estate A Star News Group publication Phone: 9933 4800
Guess who’s got West’s best address A RECENT report proves what every Bacchus Marsh resident already knew – their suburb is one of the best to live in. According to the Top 100 Suburbs for Family Living report, compiled by Aussie Home Loans and RP Data, Bacchus Marsh ranks third as the nation’s most family-friendly regional postcode. The Brimbank suburb of Taylors Lakes was fifth in the nation’s top 10 metropolitan suburbs. Bacchus Marsh mother and businesswoman Briony Walker and her daughters Piaf and Eva couldn’t agree more with the results. Along with husband Sean Cartlidge, the family made the area their home last year and they haven’t looked back. “I always thought I would remain a city-slicker but I’ve changed my mind now,” Briony told Star. “We wake up with kangaroos on our lawn ... it’s not so busy and I feel safe leaving the kids to play in the front yard. We’re enjoying the country lifestyle while not being far from the convenience of the city.” 116603 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
‘Hoons are idiots’ By XAVIER SMERDON STATISTICS from January and February show that of the 23 cars impounded in Melton, 65 per cent belonged to people who live in the municipality while of the 18 drivers in Wyndham who had their cars impounded, 61 per cent of them live in Wyndham. Senior Sergeant Ross Burbidge told Star this was abnormally high. “What this shows is that they have a blatant disregard for other road users and people living in their community,” Sen Sgt Burbidge said.
“I’ve been to numerous fatal accidents and it is one of the worst things I have had to do as a policeman, and then we need to knock on the door of their family and tell them that their son or daughter has been killed. “They don’t seem to understand the repercussions of their actions. “It is time for parents that see their kids acting in this way to take action and to start acting like parents. “They need to be responsible enough to stop their children from taking part in these kinds of dangerous activities.” The figures also revealed that the
overwhelming majority of hoon drivers were under the age of 25. All of the cars impounded in Wyndham belonged to men and 50 per cent of them were under the age of 25 while in Melton 91 per cent of them belonged to men and 60 per cent of the drivers were aged under 25 years old. Chairman of the RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council said the figures showed hoons in Melton and Wyndham did not care about their own communities. “The residents of Wyndham and Melton are just fed up with this kind of behaviour,” Mr Giddings said.
“Not only is it annoying, but people are fearful that that one of these idiots, and that’s the only thing you can call them, idiots, one day they will lose control of their high powered vehicle and kill themselves or another innocent person. “These hoons are holding the community at ransom and they just have no regard or respect for the law or for the safety of their neighbours.” Both men encouraged family members or friends of hoons to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and report them.
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