JUNE 2, 2015 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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A quantum leap forward The father and son behind a highperformance car designed and built in Gisborne are ready to take their passion for exhilarating motoring around the world. Quantum Performance Vehicles’ GP700, with a top speed about 320km/h, was unveiled at Gisborne Peak Winery on Friday. The sleek car, wheeled out after seven years of development, can be street-registered and goes from zero to 100km/h in 2.6 seconds. Operations manager Andrew David worked closely on the design with his father, Quantum founder Jeff. He says that while the open-wheeler will be available in Australia, the company will seek to carve out a market in emerging wealthy countries of the Middle East and south-east Asia. ‘‘We’re aiming to sell a handful in the first year, then 10 a year after that,’’ he says. Production of the GP700 will be capped and the car will be sold as part of a package, including access to a personal engineer. Andrew says the car’s custom aluminium and carbon chassis delivers incredible grip, while low-speed tuning and suspension balancing makes it equally at home on the road and racetrack. ‘‘We really focused on making a car that’s very driveable,’’ he says. ‘‘A lot of supercars are very complicated, but the GP700 is not. ‘‘It’s also a pretty good Sunday drive.’’ Car designer Jeff David and the Quantum team, Bob Dixon, Sean McKinney and Andrew David, with the Quantum GP700. (Shawn Smits)
Matt Crossman
Kangaroo cull slammed By Matt Crossman Wildlife rescuers have rejected calls for a kangaroo cull in the Macedon Ranges. Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network (MRWN) spokeswoman Fiona Corke said more signs and better driver education were needed, after a number of recent crashes involving kangaroos. A motorist involved in a serious smash north of Kyneton last week called for kangaroos to be shot to make roads safer before someone is killed. Residents have also complained about kangaroos in backyards and gardens, while large mobs are regularly seen grazing beside roads near Gisborne, Riddells Creek and
Kyneton. Ms Corke said kangaroo numbers were not especially high this year and vowed that MRWN would fight any moves to cull the protected native species. ‘‘To blame kangaroos and native animals … it wouldn’t happen in any other type of road accident,’’ Ms Corke said. ‘‘A lot of it has to come down to driver responsibility. “People need to slow down, be aware of their surroundings and use their peripheral vision.’’ Ms Corke said there was poor or no signage in many areas where kangaroos were found. ‘‘And information about how to avoid wildlife on our roads – it’s not even in our learner driver handbook,’’ she said. Annual data released by MRWN reveals the
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buildings or threatening human safety. In the Macedon Ranges, 79 permits to get rid of 2180 kangaroos were granted in the past year. The spokeswoman also urged motorists to drive to conditions. ‘‘Drivers should be especially careful between dawn and dusk, when native animals are most likely to be on the move.’’ Motor vehicle insurer AAMI records the Macedon Ranges as one of the state’s hotspots for animal-related crash claims, especially in winter. Spokesman Reuben Aitchison said 4600 claims were made across the state in 2014, with Gisborne the second-most dangerous area behind Bendigo. Report injured wildlife on 1300 094 535.
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number of animals treated by its volunteers in 2014 was up 300 on the previous 12 months. A total of 1897 animals were attended to last year, 876 more than the 1021 recorded in 2011. Volunteers cared for 1292 kangaroos last year, many injured on local roads. An Environment Department spokeswoman said kangaroo numbers tended to correspond with seasonal conditions ‘‘which are currently favourable’’. She said, where possible, the department encouraged land managers and owners to manage interactions without resorting to fencing or netting. Landholders can apply for a permit to use direct control techniques, such as dispersal or culling, if wildlife is damaging crops and
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