Daily Archives: 30/04/2016

Man clocked speeding at 196km/h near Holbrook

A MAN has been caught speeding at 196km/h on the Hume Highway.

Police detected the man, a foreign national holding an international drivers licence, travelling along the 110km/h zone stretch at 4pm Tuesday, about 10 kilometres south of Holbrook.

The driver informed police he was “taking my mum to Melbourne”. Police confiscated the number plates from the vehicle and suspended the man from driving in NSW.

He will face court for a charge of driving in a speed/manner dangerous.

Merger rumours scotched

Harden mayor John Horton has scotched rumours his council’s submission to merge with Cootamundra and Gundagai under the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future NSW local government reform proposition has been withdrawn.

Mr Horton told The Young Witness yesterday the council had been advised by the NSW Government to put forward an alternative proposal for the merger of Cootamundra-Gundagai-Harden and that submission had been lodged by the new April deadline.

“It hasn’t been withdrawn, that sounds like Gundagai’s talk,” he said.

Mr Horton said the Harden community had always been unanimous in their support for a merger with Cootamundra Shire Council.

“Gundagai wants to stand alone but if we are forced to go with Gundagai we will make it work,” he said.

The rumour reached Young Shire Council’s monthly meeting last week, with general manager David Aber saying the local government minister wouldn’t take the news too lightly if it was true.

“I think it’s it is very poor play,” he said at the meeting.

Mayor Brian Ingram agreed it “wasn’t a good look”.

Of the alternative proposed merger with Young and Boorowa, Mr Horton said he didn’t have a problem with Young per se.

“I guess the only thing I don’t like is your reverse-in parking,” he said.

He speculated the community sentiment against Young could be put down to years of rivalry.

“But from a business perspective we have a lot more in common with Cootamundra,” he said.

Mr Horton said the two councils had worked hand-in-hand for years and had a good affinity with each other.

“It’s like a marriage – if you have a lot in common with someone and you like each other it has a better chance of working than, say, a shotgun marriage which might not stand the test of time,” he said.

Police investigate crash – Goulburn

Police are investigating a crash in Goulburn yesterday that left a man in a critical condition.

About 4pm (Friday 29 April 2016), emergency services were called to Hume Street, following reports of a crash.

Initial investigation suggest a VW Caddy travelling north on Hume Street, crashed into the rear and an Iveco flatbed tow truck, which had slowed to make a turn.

The driver of the VW, a 21-year-old man, was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to Goulburn Hospital with critical injuries.

He was later transferred by helicopter to Canberra Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

The driver of the Iveco, a 30-year-old man, was uninjured and was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

A crime scene was established and examined by specialist officers and investigations are continuing.

Shots fired at home – Ganmain

Police are appealing for public assistance after shots were fired at a house in Ganmain, 45km north-west of Wagga Wagga, today.

About 5am (Friday 29 April 2016), the residents of a home on Ford Street, Ganmain discovered two bullet holes in a wall and a fly screen of the property. It is believed the shots were fired overnight.

A man and woman, as well as their four children were at home at the time, but were uninjured.

Police from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command attended and established a crime scene, which was examined by forensic specialists.

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

RFS member charged after allegedly starting bushfires – SCC Property Crime Squad

A probationary member of the Rural Fire Service has been charged after allegedly starting bushfires in the state’s Hunter Region.

Strike Force Billett was established by the Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit to investigate more than 100 bushfires in the Cessnock area between August 2015 and April 2016.

As a result of their inquiries, a 20-year-old man was arrested at a fire at Lochinvar about 2pm yesterday (Thursday 28 April 2016).

Following a search of the man’s vehicle, investigators also located and seized accelerants and a number of mobile phones.

The man, who is a probationary member of the Rural Fire Service, was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with five counts of cause fire and be reckless to its spread, and trespass.

He has been refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Friday 29 April 2016).