Connecting people and communities Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook
Incorporating Star Real Estate
Tuesday, 10 December, 2013
A Star News Group publication Phone: 9933 4800
Established Homes
WERR
No. 560 50c inc. GST
Connecting people
and communities
www.
western
Vets to the e rescue e
Happy anniversaryy
West is best
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
SPORT
.com.au Tuesday, 10 December,
2013 Page 1
Property ty Lift outt
Cops target rogues By XAVIER SMERDON VICTORIA police have identified up to 80 dangerous drivers in Wyndham who continue to drive drunk and on drugs and flout the road rules. Wyndham’s police Inspector Damien Christensen told Star that the worst drivers in the area were being targeted by members of his Highway Patrol. “We know of 70 or 80 people that are considered to be high risk drivers because they drink and drive or take drugs and drive or continue to speed, and they’ve racked up a bunch of fines,” Insp Christensen said. “We’re looking to make sure they don’t continue to drive.” It comes as dramatic decreases in the number of people dying on the western suburb’s roads show that they are the safest they have been in several years. The latest TAC road safety statistics were released last week showing that all but one suburb in the West had seen a drop in road related fatalities. Wyndham had the biggest decrease after two horror years where nine people were killed consecutively in 2011 and 2012, with a decrease of 56 per cent. The figures, which compare the 12 months to October this year, also
indicated that Melton had seen a reduction in fatalities of 50 per cent from 2012 to 2013. When comparing this year to 2011 the drop is even more dramatic at 63 per cent. Brimbank and Maribyrnong also had comparatively good years, with drops of 44 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. The only suburb where the number of road deaths increased was Hobsons Bay, which went from just one in 2011 to three this year. Chairman of RoadSafe Westgate, which advocates for safer roads and driver education in the West, Jim Giddings, told Star a higher police presence was behind the shift. “Two things have contributed to this reduction and they are a greater community awareness of issues like speeding and hooning, and a greater presence from the police,” Mr Giddings said. “There is no doubt that when we have a more visible police presence that people do slow down.” Inspector Christensen said there had been an increased focus on making Wyndham’s roads safer. “Over the last 12 months there has been a stunning incremental push to increase the focus on road policing and the results are what they are,” he said.
We’re racing!
THE Werribee Cup is set to go ahead this Sunday, and even the weather is even predicted to co-operate for the day. It is expected to be a mostly sunny day and reach a top of 27 degrees, meaning there will be no excuse for the ladies not to wear their finest race day dresses. Alex Hecker and Edwin Jup, the ambassadors for the Werribee Cup, showed everyone how it was done last week by getting dressed up and Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT inspecting the track. Full report, page 15. 111474 • Cos ei De tures • Flexi le De tures 1061473-JL6-13 • De tures NO DENTIST REFERRALS NEEDED • 1hr Express Repairs • Mouthguards • Repairs Reli e • Metal Fra e Plates • Sot Li ers NO WAITING LIST
SPOIL YOURSELF THIS CHRISTMAS
GET A FLEXIBLE DENTURE DIRECT TO THE PUBLIC
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
1111181-PB50-13
139. Heaths Road Hoppers Crossing (Bright Purple Clinic 4 Houses Up From Hampstead Drive Towards Werribee Plaza)
PHONE 9749 0834
1108483-LN48-13
CAR SALES & RENTALS