THE Wangaratta Clay Target Club is believed to be the cause of contamination that prompted closure of the neighbouring sports complex.
Tests to determine whether lead contamination has reached water supplies in the area are expected to produce results within the next three days.

The environmental hazard came to light little more than two weeks ago when Wangaratta Council moved to close down the city’s Clay Target Club and North Wangaratta Sporting Complex.

It is unlikely the Hawks Football Netball Club will be able to use its home facilities for the rest of the season.
Alternative venues for games and training purposes have been sourced through AFL North East Border.
The Environmental Protection Authority could not determine the risk to community members who had previously used the venues until further testing had taken place.
The two sets of soil sampling taken by the authority both returned a lead presence above the recommended level on the eastern side of the field.

The council tested water samples from rain water tanks and bores at the Vine Hotel and Wangaratta Rifle Club, which were both negative for lead contamination.
The EPA also took water samples from bores within a one kilometre radius of the football oval late last week, with the results expected in the next few days.
EPA North East manager Clare Kiely said groundwater was now the focus.
Residents who used bore water were being advised to seek further advice.

“While some testing of water bores and rain tanks at the adjacent gun club and hotel have come back clear of lead, as a precaution, a number of bores within a one kilometre radius will now be tested,” Ms Kiely said.
“Goulburn Murray Water has told EPA bore water is not treated for human consumption and that advice should certainly be heeded while EPA’s investigations into lead contamination at the site are ongoing.”

The council has been liaising with users of both facilities and posting regular updates on its Facebook page.
Both sites remain cordoned-off with danger signs, road blocks and fact sheets at the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information about the lead contamination, visit the council’s website at wangaratta.vic.gov.au/council/news/NorthWang.asp.

It was a fine day for driving. The air was clear and road dry, and the driver could see 200 metres ahead, to where the road began to curve upwards.

But Gerard Christian Degroot, 47, did not see the two cars pulled over, one after the other, on the side of the Hume Highway at Yass. He did not brake, or slow down, a court heard, but swerved to the right at the last minute.

It was not enough to avoid a collision, and the front left corner of his prime mover hit the first car and then 83-year-old Francis Paterson, who was leaning on the driver’s side, talking to the man behind the wheel.

His wife was in the first car, and his wife’s sister and her husband in the second.

Mr Paterson died as a result of the injuries he sustained on the morning of March 11, 2015.

On Friday, Degroot was sentenced to prison for two years and three months, with a non-parole period of 15 months. He will be eligible for release on August 26 next year.

In sentencing, Justice Phillip Mahony rejected a pre-sentence report that suggested Degroot did not feel remorse for the offence, and instead found him truly remorseful.

The report also said Degroot blamed in part the victim for the accident, for not pulling over far enough out of the left hand lane.

But Degroot pleaded guilty early on, and the court heard that in cross-examination he said: “I killed a man, and I am guilty.”

He said if he could replace the deceased, he would.

The accident was not the result of a momentary lapse of attention, the court heard. It was not because of speed or illicit substances, though cannabis and methamphetamine were detected in his blood. And it was likely not because he was on his phone, though he had been earlier on and while driving.

It was caused by a significant period of inattention or distraction, by a heavy vehicle licence holder who had driven the Hume Highway six times a week for 20 years, the court heard.

Degroot failed to keep a proper look out, Justice Mahoney said, and because of his experience there was a greater moral culpability.

A victim impact statement was tendered by Mr Paterson’s wife, and Justice Mahony said it was common sense that the loss of him would have had a significant impact on the lives of his family.

Degroot had a number of supporters who attended the District Court sitting in Queanbeyan on Friday, and he mouthed “I love you” to them as he was escorted from the court.

A man has been charged after allegedly indecently assaulting a young girl in the Riverina.

On Wednesday 18 May 2016, police from the Child Abuse Squad commenced an investigation following a report an 11-year-old girl had been indecent assaulted.

It’s alleged the 11-year-old girl was indecently assaulted when staying with family friends last year.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad were alerted on Wednesday 18 May 2016, and began an investigation into the alleged incident.

Following their inquiries, a 29-year-old man was arrested at Wagga Wagga Police Station yesterday (Wednesday 25 May 2016), and charged with indecent assault of person under 16.

He later appeared at Wagga Wagga Local Court and was granted bail to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 20 July 2016.

The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, physical abuse and serious cases of neglect.

A man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault, involving two personnel, at a federal government facility in Wagga Wagga yesterday.

Between 6.30pm and 7pm (Wednesday 25 May 2016), a 20-year-old woman was in the laundry of the facility when it is alleged she was approached by a man.

It is further alleged the man forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her before leaving.

The incident was reported to police and an investigation commenced.

About 2.30am this morning (Thursday 26 May 2016), police arrested a 26-year-old man. He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and charged with sexual intercourse without consent.

He was refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Thursday 26 May 2016).