JANUARY 17, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Damjan Janevski)
High-flying pool party
AUSTIN, 9
Macedon Ranges residents are making a splash this summer, taking advantage of the council’s outdoor pool season. Swimmers flocked to Woodend pool last Tuesday to keep cool as the mercury reached 28 degrees. The pool, along with the council’s other outdoor pool at Lancefield, will remain open until Sunday, March 5, as long as the temperature is above 26 degrees. Special school holiday opening hours are in place until Sunday, January 29, with the pool open from 1.30-6pm on days when the temperature is between 24 and 29 degrees, and from 11am-6pm when the mercury tops 30 degrees. Details: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au
Cop plea to cut speeding By Laura Michell Ten drivers a day, on average, were caught ignoring the speed limit in Macedon Ranges during a recent Victoria Police operation. Highway patrol officers were out in force in the Macedon Ranges between December 16 and January 8 for Operation Roadwise, an effort to reduce road trauma during the high-risk Christmas-new year period. During the three-week operation, 218 drivers were caught speeding and four vehicles were
impounded. Macedon Ranges Highway Patrol Sergeant Brad Hall said the number of drivers flouting speed limits was disappointing. “It’s too many. “Any drivers caught speeding is too many,” he said. “My message to people is slow down – speed kills.” Sergeant Hall said drivers on the Calder Freeway posed the biggest problem for police, with many of those booked for speeding picked up on the Melbourne-Bendigo motorway.
He said police would be focusing local efforts on the Calder in coming months. Police also caught 34 people driving unregistered vehicles, while 21 were booked for seatbelt offences, and eight were stopped for using their mobile phones while driving. Twenty-four people were caught driving without licences or while they were disqualified. Sergeant Hall said police carried out about 7000 breath tests during the operation, with five people detected drink driving and one drug driver caught.
“We had a low number of positive results for the number of tests carried out. Obviously, we aim for zero positive results, but it was a good result for us,” he said. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said the new year was a chance for everyone to reflect on how they could help cut the road toll and its trauma. “Police will continue to be out and about, focusing on seeing road users arrive safely home,” he said. “But it’s now time for the community – for you – to do your part.”