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17 MARCH, 2021
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‘Burnout city’ By Alesha Capone Residents of the Woodville area in Hoppers Crossing fear it is only a matter time before hoon drivers accidentally kill someone in their neighbourhood. A group of residents said drivers engaged in unsafe behaviour, including speeding, drag racing and doing burnouts and doughnuts on local roads at all hours. The residents, who asked for only their first names to be used due to fears for their safety, also said monkey bike and dirt bike riders “plagued” the area’s parks and playgrounds. The residents – Ron, Rebecca, Michelle and Frank – said that Woodville residents were “fed-up”. “It’s not a matter of if, but when, someone is going to die as a result of the hoons in our area,” Rebecca said.
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Not a matter of if, but when, someone is going to die as a result of the hoons - Rebecca
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“I live in a street with two childcare centres and I’m worried about the kids and families. There are so many kids playing outside through the day and what if the hoons hit them?” The residents said they feared a repeat of an accident which occurred in Warringa Crescent on October 3 last year, in which a driver crashed through a fence and into a house. No one was injured. Ron said figure-of-eight tyre marks left by hoons could be seen in Woodville Park Drive, Roma Street, Warringa Crescent and Derrimut Road. “It’s burnout city,” Ron said. “I have a little girl and when we’re sitting in the lounge room, she gets scared hearing the noise.” Frank said he has asked his doctor for psychiatric assistance, as the hooning makes him feel constantly anxious. The residents said they have been keeping logs of the hoon activity for months, reporting incidents to the Hoon Hotline, emailing police and capturing CCTV footage. 12484234-CG10-21
Clockwise from above: Doughnut marks in a carpark used by parents to pick up their children from school and child care; Hoons knocked over this road safety sign near a children’s crossing; Tyre marks are a common sight outside schools and child care centres. (Pictures: Supplied)
The residents say they have pleaded for police and Wyndham council to take action. “We feel like Woodville residents are copping it on the chin and nothing has been done,” Rebecca said. “We’ve had enough.” The residents said they would like police to regularly patrol the Woodville area.
They also said that while speed humps did not seem to deter the hoons, Wyndham council could potentially install metal speed humps which can be screwed into the road – such as the ones used at Pacific Werribee – or use CCTV to cover hoon “blackspots”. A Wyndham council spokesperson said that “hooning is a matter for Victoria Police”.
Victoria Police said: “Police have no tolerance for illegal hoon activity and remain committed to disrupting and prosecuting anyone involved in this type of dangerous behaviour. “We know this type of behaviour is incredibly frustrating for local residents and police are committed to working closely with community groups to address their concerns.”