Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Officers working alongside Roads and Maritime Services officers have issued 2810 defect notices to trucks and trailers in the second week of Operation StateTrans.

In total, 29,740 trucks and trailers were intercepted since the operation began, and 1,697 traffic infringements and 615 breach notices were issued for licence, registration, load, fatigue and other offences.

Inspectors have downloaded 376 Engine Control Modules so far during the operation, with 75 found to be non-compliant or tampered with, allowing speeds of over 100km/h on NSW roads. In addition, out of 1,252 random drug tests, 15 drivers tested positive and were given 24-hour prohibition notices from driving, and are pending further Court action.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said Joint Traffic Taskforce Operations were essential for ensuring the state of the NSW heavy vehicle fleet was safe on our roads.

“This is an opportunity for drivers, loaders, operators, companies, and directors alike to learn from our enforcement experience.

“While the number of non-compliance issues is relatively low given the number of trucks intercepted, those that are tampering with speed to allow their trucks to travel over the 100kph limit for heavy vehicles are being identified, prosecuted, and put off the road,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

Roads and Maritime Services General Manager Compliance Operations, Paul Endycott, said with more than 175,000 heavy vehicles registered in NSW, targeted enforcement operations like StateTrans play a crucial role in identifying and reducing non-compliance.

“Over the past three years there has been a 50 per cent drop in the defect rate in NSW, StateTrans plays an important role in seeing this downwards trend continue,” Mr Endycott said.

“With thousands of truck movements taking place every day, drivers, operators and all parties in the Chain of Responsibility must ensure their business practices do not compromise safety on the roads, and all vehicles must be roadworthy and meet the required checks and balances.

“It’s only a small number of drivers, operators, and companies that continually do the wrong thing which is why working with NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol is important in both ensuring, and enforcing, heavy vehicle compliance on the roads,” he said.

Some examples of serious non compliance include;

About 11pm on Tuesday (10 May 2016), officers stopped a B-double carrying 60 ton of bagged sugar on the Cumberland Highway.

An inspection revealed that the first trailer was unregistered and a $1,300 infringement notice was issued along with four demerit points.

Further inspection revealed that four tyres on the rear trailer were dangerously defective, with three

having exposed tyre casings.

The trailer was issued a major defect and unloaded, pending registration of the trailer and tyre replacement.

About 9pm on Thursday (12 May 2016) police stopped a heavy vehicle travelling south on the Newell Highway, Daroobalgie. Checks on the driver’s licence revealed he had a ourt-imposed driver licence cancellation until 2032.

A search of the vehicle revealed a number of work diairies, a radar detector and prohibited knives. The driver was arrested and taken for mandatory testing.

About 2.45am yesterday, (18 May 2016), police stopped a heavy vehicle and in Pine Creek. Checks on the driver revealed he was disqualified from driving.

Further checks revealed the vehicle had been allegedly tampered with to exceed speeds of 100km/h and had a radar detector installed.

StateTrans, a joint initiative between Australian Police and road agencies continues throughout the month of May.

Police have commenced an investigation into the attempted abduction of a teenager after she was dragged into a vehicle before escaping at Albury earlier today.

Between 4.30pm and 4.45pm today (Tuesday 17 May 2016), a 17-year-old girl was waiting for a friend in David Street near the intersection of Dean Street.

The girl was approached by a male driving a dark green utility who spoke with her.

The male then dragged the girl into the vehicle and drove west along Dean Street before stopping at a set of traffic lights.

Whilst the utility was stationary the girl was able to escape from the passenger seat.

She was not injured during the incident.

The matter was later reported to police from Albury Local Area Command who searched the area for the vehicle but without success.

The vehicle has been described to police as a dark green utility with a green P-plate on the front windscreen, possibly indicating a Victorian vehicle/driver.

The driver has been described to police as being about 20-years-old with a medium build. He had medium length dark brown hair.

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or with information to contact police immediately.

A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting security officers and police at Albury overnight.

About 1.15am (Sunday 15 May 2016), security guards attempted to evict a man from a licensed premise on Dean Street due to intoxication.

It’s alleged the man assaulted the guard before being detained.

Police were alerted and officers from Albury Local Area Command attended and arrested the man.

It’s further alleged the man resisted arrest and kicked one of the male officers.

He was subdued by capsicum spray before being taken to Albury Police Station.

The 40-year-old, from Wodonga in Victoria, was charged with assault, assault police, and resist police.

He was given bail to appear at Albury Local Court on a date yet to be determined

A LAST ditch legal challenge to save Gundagai council from oblivion is before the courts.

The state government went ahead with plans to forcibly amalgamate Gundagai and Cootamundra at lunchtime on Thursday, sacking democratically elected councillors and installing administrators in their place.

What Premier Mike Baird didn’t know was hours earlier former Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister lodged an injunction to halt the merger ahead of a full Land and Environment Court hearing.

The shock court challenge comes as a whole swag of local councils were wiped from the map by way of forced mergers, which the government hopes will save $2 billion over the next 20 years.

To sweeten the deal, the state government will kick in $10 million to meet the costs of merging and up to $15 million for new infrastructure.

“On Tuesday, council made a decision to take legal action and we filed the papers just before the government’s proclamation, when we were still a council,” Mr McAlister said.

Gundagai businessman John Knight – a former member of the Nationals’ state executive – said the National Party had failed to protect the bush from the Liberal’s razor gang.

“Democracy in rural Australia is dead, it died 12 months ago when the merger process started,” he said.

“This whole disaster, the merging of Gundagai council with a council four times the size, will destroy our community by taking professionals out of the town.

“The National Party should never have let this get so far, they’re supposed to protect small rural communities from the big business side of the Liberal Party.”

Despite the mergers being a Baird state government decision, Mr Knight will ask Nationals members to “put their (Riverina MP) Michael McCormack how-to-vote cards in the bin” at the July 2 federal election.

Riverina-based former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer labelled the merger of Tumut and Tumbarumba a “colossal mistake”.

“It was a NSW state government political decision to abolish Tumbarumba Shire and for that matter to correctly retain Lockhart Shire and correctly create Federation Shire,” he said.

“It follows that there can be a further NSW political decision to revoke the Tumbarumba abolition, which is a colossal mistake, and within weeks announce Tumbarumba Shire will be free-standing and independent of Tumut.”

LOCKHART shire is revelling in their independence, after a grass-roots community campaign convinced the state government to spare them from forced council mergers.

Lockhart community volunteer Jeff Nimmo said the local economy dodged a bullet.

“Our jobs, our identity and our town have been saved,” Mr Nimmo said.

“There’s not one vacant shop in our town but it would have become ghost town.

“Maybe more concerning, our residents would have lost their representation.

“I am over the moon.”

Lockhart resident Myra Jenkyn said locals were walking ten feet tall.

“Lockhart is growing in stature by the day and we’re getting a great name,” she said.

“We worked hard to keep our town alive and we’re all so happy.”
“Obviously the federal election precipitated the speed by which these mergers happened.” Former Tumbarumba mayor Ian Chaffey.

“The administrator hasn’t had any experience in local government, but has to convince two communities it will be alright.” Former Cootamundra mayor Jim Slattery.

“There can be a further NSW political decision to revoke the Tumbarumba abolition, which is a colossal mistake, and within weeks announce a further adjustment mainly that Tumbarumba Shire will be freestanding and independent of Tumut.” Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer.

“Democracy is dead in rural Australia.” Gundagai businessman John Knight.

“The NSW Government has listened to community concerns and created new wards that reflect the identity of existing communities,” local government minister Paul Toole.

Two teenage girls have been charged following an alleged attempted robbery at a Wagga Wagga service station last week.

About 7.45pm on Wednesday 4 May 2016, two people, allegedly armed with knives, entered the Tobruk Street Ashmont premises and threatened the attendant.

The male employee was assaulted by one of the offenders but was able to fight them off.

The pair, who had concealed their faces during the incident, left the store empty handed.

The employee, who was not injured during the robbery, was able to raise the alarm.

A crime scene was established by officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command and was later examined by specialist forensic officers.

About 4.30pm today (Friday 13 May 2016), following investigations, two 17-year-old girls attended Wagga Wagga Police Station, where they were arrested.

One of the girls was charged with attempted robbery whilst armed. The other was charged with principal in the second degree to attempted robbery whilst armed.

Both girls were refused bail and are due to appear at Children’s Court tomorrow (Saturday 14 May 2016).

On-going delays are expected on the Hume Highway after a B-Double rolled near Holbrook in southern NSW today (Friday 13 May 2016).

About 12.20am a B-Double, carrying a load of paint and solvents, was travelling north on the Hume Highway when it rolled near Woomargama.

The 52-year-old male driver was assessed on site by NSW Ambulance Paramedics.

He was taken to Albury Base Hospital for further checks. His injuries are not considered life threatening.

HAZMAT personnel from Fire & Rescue NSW are also on site.

Traffic diversions are in place around the crash site. For the latest on road conditions motorists should check www.livetraffic.com.

Safety improvement work will start next Monday, May 16 on the Hume Highway at Yanderra near the Bargo exit ramps.

The Particulars of Place is the next workshop in the Poetry•Prose•Place writing program facilitated by published poet Lizz Murphy. This half-day workshop is suitable for poetry and short prose writers. It continues an exploration of place writing and includes a look at Ecopoetry. There will be exercises to encourage lots of writing, making your writing rich and textured through particulars/details and generally improving your writing skills. Aspiring, new and developing writers all welcome.
The Particulars of Place will be held in the Yass Community Centre (next to the Men’s Shed), Yass Valley Way on Sunday 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm May 15 and repeated at the Black Swan Gallery, Burley Griffin Way (Stephens Street), Binalong on Sunday May 22, 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Cost: $10 or $5 pensioner concession.
BOOKINGS

Please contact Lizz Murphy on lizzmurphy7@gmail.com or 0428 005641 for more information and to enrol. (Pay on the day.)
Lizz Murphy has published twelve books, is published internationally and is a popular workshop facilitator with over twenty years experience.
Poetry•Prose•Place is a Binalong Arts Group (BAG) Inc program supported by Arts NSW’s Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Regional Arts NSW and local Regional Arts Boards on behalf of the NSW Government.

A joint police operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gang activity in southern NSW has seen police seize drugs and close down a club house linked to the Black Uhlans.

Albury Local Area Command and the Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor, assisted by Police Rescue, the Dog Unit and Traffic & Highway Patrol Command conducted the operation yesterday in South Albury.

About 6pm (Friday 6 May 2016), a property linked to the Black Uhlan OMCG was searched by virtue of a warrant under the Restricted Premises Act and contravening the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Twenty club members were present at the time of executing the warrant.

All twenty were searched and four issued with Field Court Attendance Notices for drug and liquor offences and will appear before court at a later date.

Officers allegedly located a small amount of amphetamine on a 55-year-old club associate and a 31-year-old club member.

A 55-year-old man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for two counts of possess prohibited drug (amphetamine and cannabis).

A 23-year-old man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for sell liquor without required responsible service of alcohol qualification.

Police will allege over 550 containers of alcohol along with ledgers, associated documents and cash were seized in the unlicensed premises; which was subsequently closed down.

Several vehicles leaving the clubhouse were also stopped by Traffic & Highway Patrol officers who issued six major defects and 10 DECC notices for excessive exhaust noise.

Albury Local Area Commander, Superintendent Evan Quarmby, said local police would continue to utilise all resources at their disposal to disrupt OMCG criminal activity in the area.

“Any OMCG member who breaks the law can expect to come to the full attention of police,” he said.

“The public should not have to put up with their criminal behaviour and we certainly won’t tolerate it.

“I would urge any person who has information about the criminal activities of OMCGs to come forward. All information can also be given in strict confidence.” said Supt Quarmby