Vandals tear up trees at point
HOONS are again congregating at Limeburners Point prompting police to urge any witnesses to report anti-social behaviour.
Months after Deputy Opposition Leader and Corio Labor MP Richard Marles spoke in parliament about the dangers of Limeburners Pointt little seems to have changed.
Six trees at the southeastern corner of the carpark were vandalised this week and were removed by City of Greater Geelong workers on Tuesday.
They will be replaced in the next planting season.
Geelong's Brendan Thompson said groups of young people continued to gather and conduct burnouts, cause vandalism and damage the area.
Mr Thompson said he regularly saw burnt rubber and rubbish strewn across the carpark and even claimed to have found animal carcasses and evidence of arson.
“It's an absolute disgrace,” he said.
In February Mr Marles said CCTV installed by authorities had failed to solve the issue of hooning.
“The sheriff department of Victoria Police often send officers down to Limeburners Point after reports of hooning or bad behaviour. These aren’t solutions; they’re purely reactive and continue to cost ratepayers,” he said.
Geelong Highway Patrol Sergeant Peter Radford said police were continuing to conduct long-term operations at the site and had impounded a number of vehicles for hooning.
Officers have also issued drivers with notices for having unroadworthy vehicles.
“The community should be assured that we can and will continue to patrol the area.”
Sergeant Radford urged anyone who witnessed problematic behaviour at the site to note any registration plates and call 000.
“We impound cars regularly out there and we will use our powers under the Road Safety Act,” he said.
City of Greater Geelong’s director of city services, Guy Wilson-Browne, said the city was continuing to investigate ways to reduce anti-social behaviour at Limeburners Point.
“A number of options are being considered. The group is working with Victoria Police on the matter,” he said.
People witnessing hoon behaviour should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. the state government building a tunnel from Sunshine to the city.
A PORTARLINGTON business is helping to raise awareness and funds for mental health … one puzzle at a time.
Clue Detective Puzzle Agency has teamed up with local Rotary clubs to promote mental health through puzzling, while also helping to raise funds during the COVID-19 crisis.
The contactless form of fundraising aims to counter the loss of traditional Rotary fundraising events such as markets and barbecues.
A percentage of puzzle membership sales will go to Australian Rotary Health’s Lift the Lid on Mental Illness campaign, which supports youth mental health research.
Clue Detective founder and Rotarian Catherine Eagleson said she was proud to have partnered with her club Drysdale to launch the Puzzling for Mental Health initiative.
“This project is providing Rotary clubs with a way of collaborating with each other, connecting with their communities and individuals who may be suffering due to being isolated,” Ms Eagleson said.
She said puzzling – whether it be crosswords, codewords, sudoku or trivia – provided a fun activity for people during lockdown, either as an individual or with friends via Zoom.
“Keeping in touch with friends over an engaging puzzle is the ideal activity to keep the problem at bay,” she said.
Clue Detective is working with a number of clubs nationwide and locally, including Drysdale, Highton, Torquay and Bayside Geelong.
Highton Rotary is holding a free online COVID mental health forum on Friday, featuring advice from Deakin University psychologist Ross King.
Visit www.trybooking.com/ book/event?eid=643299