City entrance slammed
In Brief Two wanted on warrants
By Casey Neill
Bob Malcolm points out rubbish along the walking track. 166671 to be more litter along the banks of the creek (within the fenced area) that we will refer on to Melbourne Water for action,” Ms Reid said. “A smaller amount of wind-blown litter was also observed along the base of the fence in the council-maintained areas immediately adjacent to Cheltenham Road, as well as within the VicRoads-maintained garden bed on the north side. “Council will clean up these areas next week, then monitor to determine if they should be placed on an ongoing proactive litter collection program.” Melbourne Water’s South East Waterways and Land Manager John Woodland said the authority spent about $30,000 in the past year on litter removal along the creek. He said litter threatened plant and animal life and wasted Melbourne Water resources. Mr Woodland urged people to report littering
Picture: GARY SISSONS
to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on 1300 372 842. “We encourage the community to report rubbish in waterways directly to us on 131 722,” he said. EastLink spokesman Doug Spencer-Roy said the company collected litter and rubbish generated by its road users. “Furthermore, EastLink road drainage passes through water treatment trains which trap litter prior to the water being discharged into Mile Creek,” he said. “We are confident that our established processes for litter control are not contributing to the litter in Mile Creek.” Mr Spencer-Roy said EastLink’s landscaping was intended to be “like a natural environment, incorporating millions of native trees, shrubs and plants, and a habitat for wildlife”.
Freewheeling life of guns and drugs ends in court A man has been refused bail after allegedly crashing during a police pursuit in Dandenong and in a separate incident being found with an array of firearms and drugs in a motel room with a naked, unconscious female. Matthew George Matovic, 33, of Cranbourne, had sped away from police, who attempted to intercept him over a female passenger not wearing a seatbelt on Jones Road, Dandenong, on 1 March, a court heard. Matovic drove at an alleged 110 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on the wrong side of Bennet Street, Dandenong, swerving past a truck that was pulling out into traffic. “I thought he was going to roll the car,” police informant Leading Senior Constable Paul McCracken told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 27 March. Still on the wrong side of Bennet Street, the accused allegedly went through a red light at the Cheltenham Road intersection. Despite braking heavily, he crashed into the side of a Hilux utility in a “fairly substantial” collision, Leading Sen Const McCracken said.
Chance to give it their best Greater Dandenong students are getting connected with volunteering. Dandenong High School, Lyndale Secondary College and Emerson School will each receive up to $9725 from the State Government to connect students with local volunteering opportunities. The cash will come from the $4.46 million Advance funding pool, directed at secondary schools in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage. It will help schools to connect young people to conservation programs, Surf Life Saving Associations, community radio programs, emergency services and animal welfare projects. Participants will develop practical teamwork, communication and project management skills.
After Matovic’s car - with passenger on board - “rolled” through the intersection, he jumped out of the vehicle and fled by foot. He was arrested not far from the scene, wearing an empty holster and testing positive for methamphetamine in his system. Matovic told the court: “I tried to stop at the traffic lights but the car wouldn’t stop. “He could have been a family man just like me.” At the time, Matovic had extensive priors for drug use, family violence, armed robbery, burglary, firearms, driving and meth-trafficking. He’d spent more than 200 days in custody last year, had previously rammed a police vehicle and was not at his nominated Cranbourne address when visited by police several times, the court was told. Matovic was on summons over drugs and firearms found at Comfort Inn motel, Dandenong, on 12 November 2015. As paramedics treated the naked, unconscious female in the room, detectives allegedly found a loaded home-made nine-millimetre firearm next to Matovic’s motorcycle helmet. He was also charged with possessing GHB,
Police arrested a Dandenong woman who allegedly threatened a milk bar attendant with a tree branch. Greater Dandenong CIU Senior Constable Riley Wesley said the 26-year-old woman entered the store in Ross Street, Dandenong, about 4.20pm on Monday 27 March. He alleged she demanded money but was told to leave. She complied, but returned two minutes later armed with a 180cm long tree branch. Sen Const Wesley said the woman again demanded cash and waved the branch around the store. He said she stole an EFTPOS machine and fled, but was arrested nearby shortly after.
Bunnings takes over
cannabis, a loaded .22-calibre pen-pistol and 16 rounds of matching ammunition. There was also a pending intervention order protecting his girlfriend’s relatives, who he’d allegedly threatened to burn alive in their house. Charges were also pending over a Doveton home burglary, where Matovic had allegedly left a palm print. His lawyer argued Matovic - who has an acquired brain injury - was assessed as suitable for CREDIT bail. He was motivated to kick his heavy, long-term ice habit due to the impending birth of his son, the lawyer said. Magistrate Jack Vandersteen described the alleged driving as “appalling” and “as bad as it would get”. He refused bail due to Matovic being an unacceptable risk of re-offending and endangering the public, he said. “(The driving) puts so many people in the community at incredible risk. “I have no confidence you would do what’s asked of you on bail.” Matovic will appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 3 April - ahead of a possible screening for Dandenong Drugs Court.
The rumours are true - the Dandenong Bunnings store is relocating to Dandenong South. Bunnings’ Property General Manager Andrew Marks said the company had entered into an agreement with the landlord of a site at South Gippsland and Princes highways - formerly a Masters store - to convert it into a new Bunnings Warehouse. Mr Marks said works would start in the coming months, with the store set to open in the middle of the year.
Man hit in failed robbery Knife-wielding would-be thieves attacked a man walking in central Dandenong in a failed robbery. The Dandenong 51-year-old was on foot with a friend waiting for the pedestrian lights to change at Lonsdale and Foster streets about 10.15pm on Friday 24 March. A group of men described as African in appearance approached and demanded money. When the victim said he had none, one man produced a knife and slashed the victim’s clothing. He punched the victim to the face, causing him to fall to the ground where he continued to punch and kick him.
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“It looks more like a tip than an entrance to Dandenong.” Bob Malcolm lives near the Mile Creek’s intersection with Cheltenham Road and regularly walks along the waterway. “It’s a disgrace,” he said. “Graffiti is plastered all over the concrete walls. Trees and shrubs have died. The rubbish has piled up. “What plants you can see are surrounded by cans, tins, cartons. “Somebody could be knocked off and their body could be dumped there and nobody would find it for months.” The Journal first raised Mr Malcolm’s concerns on 20 April last year and he said nothing had changed. “It’s exactly the same as it was then, plus there’s been rubbish added to it,” he said. “If it was in a front yard of a private house they would be getting in trouble from the council.” He said the problem had developed since EastLink was built. “It was a picture,” he said. “There’s been no maintenance done whatsoever and that’s very disappointing.” Greater Dandenong Council’s Engineering Services Director Julie Reid said the council, Melbourne Water and VicRoads shared responsibility for maintaining the area. She said Melbourne Water was responsible for the waterway, banks and landscaped areas up to a perimeter fence that ran along each side of the creek. The council is responsible for the shared bicycle and pedestrian path and landscaping on the eastern side of the creek between the Melbourne Water fence and adjacent private properties. VicRoads is responsible for the small sections of creek frontage along Cheltenham Road. “Due to the recent storms there does appear
Police are seeking help to find two people who are wanted on warrants and are known to frequent Greater Dandenong. Minju Kang, 46, is wanted in relation to criminal damage during August 2015. Dandenong Magistrates’ Court has issued a warrant for her arrest. She’s described as Minju Kang. 160 centimetres tall with a thin build, brown eyes, black hair and a tanned complexion. Ms Kang is known to frequent the Noble Park area. Desmond Andy is wanted in relation to a burglary and theft that occurred in March 2014. The Dandenong Magistrates’ Court has issued two warrants for the 20-year-old’s arrest. He is known to frequent the Dandenong area and is described as 170cm tall with a medium build, brown eyes, brown hair and dark complexion. Report confidentially at www.crimestoppersvic. Desmond Andy. com.au or on 1800 333 000.
3 JOURNAL NEWS Monday, 3 April, 2017