Category: Hume Travel Radio Network

Two men will face court today, charged with drug supply, after police allegedly found more than 1kg of ‘Ice’ in the boot of a car in Jugiong last night.

About 5.40pm (Saturday 8 August 2015), police from Cootamundra Local Area Command stopped a Mitsubishi ASX on the Hume Highway.

Following investigations, officers searched the car and allegedly located over 1kg of drugs believed to be methylamphetamine (‘Ice’) in the boot.

The drugs were seized and will undergo forensic examinations.

The driver, a 37-year-old man, and passenger, a 19-year-old man, were arrested and taken to Gundagai Police Station.

They were each charged with supply commercial quantity of drugs, and possess prohibited drug.

Both men were refused bail and are due to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Sunday 9 August 2015).

The Sturt Highway remains closed near Wagga Wagga after a single vehicle accident early this morning.

About 1.20am today (Friday 7 August 2015), police located a Mitsubishi Magna on its roof on the Sturt Highway, west of Wagga Wagga.

The 34-year-old male driver was found with serious spinal and internal injuries and was taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital in a serious condition.

The Sturt Highway remains closed at Yarragundry and motorists are asked to use alternative routes.

THE Islamic Society of Albury-Wodonga is proposing a major redevelopment of its Lavington place of worship.

The society has submitted a development application to Albury Council to demolish its existing converted weatherboard house in Wagga Road which has been its base since 2013.

Subject to planning approval, the society will replace the existing property with a 299-square metre mosque.

Other works proposed include replacing see-through fencing and gates on Wagga Road and relocating an existing shed on the property.

The redevelopment will cost around $318,000.

The development application describes the proposed mosque as a “community facility” and will service the 400-plus Muslims who live in Albury-Wodonga.

The 1185 square metre site is zoned general residential under the Albury local environmental plan, but a “place of worship” is permitted with council consent.

Prayer sessions are held daily between 7.30am and 9pm.

Parking is contained within the property and there is minimal noise generated from the site.

The biggest number of people on site is about 50 around noon on Fridays.

The majority of Muslims living in Albury-Wodonga come from Sydney or Melbourne.

They are participating in the immigration visa scheme whereby they have to live in a regional area for two years and work for one before they can obtain permanent residency.

Some opt to return to the bigger cities once they have permanent residency but a growing number are deciding to stay locally which has driven the demand for a larger place of worship.

The original application for the Wagga Road place of worship was approved by council staff in early 2013 under delegated authority.

Society president Yakub Mohammed couldn’t be contacted for comment.

But since being based in Wagga Road the society has made many attempts to have an “open door” policy to the wider public to breakdown misconceptions about its beliefs.

Blueprint Planning has lodged the development application on behalf of the society.

FOUR youths are in custody after their car hit police road spikes on the Hume Freeway near Wodonga.

The white Ford sedan was northbound on the freeway just west of the Melrose Drive bridge when it crashed on Wednesday morning.

Inspector David Ryan, of Wangaratta police, said the officers had been made aware of the Ford driving erratically earlier in the morning and had been patrolling the area at the time the car came through.

He said the police had stopped another car when the Ford went into the right-hand lane of the freeway and struck the spikes, ending up in the centre median strip.

The youths were not seriously injured and taken to Wodonga police station for questioning.

JINGELLIC Road users have agreed to endure frustrating delays over an eight-week total road closure in a peak tourist period to complete the $3.5 million Yarara Gap upgrade.

The dangerous 2.2 kilometre section of the road linking Holbrook and the Upper Murray region including Jingellic has been the scene of two fatalities and numerous near misses.

The two-lane road narrows to only five metres at its steepest part.

Greater Hume Shire has secured $2.5 million in government funding and will add $1 million of ratepayers’ money to fix the dangerous section of road.

Major earthworks will be required as part of the project which will be completed in one hit.

Works have to be completed in the 2015-16 financial year or the council runs the risk of forfeiting the government funding.

Pre-planning for the project included the assessment of alternatives for traffic to detour around the construction site.

Four Mile Lane was considered as a detour for “local traffic” from the Lankeys Creek area and detouring other traffic via the Hume Highway also investigated by council staff.

Some of the local traffic alternatives have been relegated to stock routes or are gravel roads with only single lane bridges.

Additional money could have also been required to bring the detour routes up to an acceptable standard.

The preference of locals was for the project to be completed “under traffic” even though the construction period would take longer.
Road users are on notice about facing on average 10 minute delays at the construction site on a daily basis.

The estimated time to complete the road upgrade will be at least six months and council is under pressure to begin the job as soon as possible.
The council will meet next week to rubber stamp the preferred tender from RECivil.

The most appropriate time for the project to start is September to October to ensure completion during warmer months.

Tourists who flock to the Upper Murray area via Holbrook during the summer months will also need to factor in time delays as part of their plans.

But engineering director Greg Blackie said in the report to be presented to council next week the project was a high priority.

“The failure of a contractor to complete the works or delays by contractor issues would have serious consequences on completing the important final sealing of the road in the more appropriate conditions prior to winter,” he said.

“It would also impact on council’s ability to meet funding criteria timeframes.”

THE driver of a truck that veered onto the wrong side of the Hume Highway, narrowly missing oncoming cars by about a metre, has tested positive to methamphetamine, police allege.

Officers are also looking at possible fatigue and logbook offences against the driver following Tuesday morning’s incident, with the investigation to look at the Queensland-based transport company.

Senior Constable Colin Boyle said the 38-year-old Queensland man had been travelling northbound when the truck left the road at Glenrowan about 8.30am.

The truck had travelled in a straight line, suggesting the driver may have been asleep, before veering back into the centre median strip and becoming bogged.

“At this stage police are investigation fatigue and possible substance related offences,” he said.

“We will be engaging the heavy vehicle unit to fully explore any of the relevant fatigue-related offences.

“The man was allegedly substance affected.”

The man’s logbook also failed to match the driving schedule he told police.

“Police are also investigating this matter in relation to chain of responsibility legislation,” Senior Constable Boyle said.

“We want to make sure bosses aren’t putting pressure on their employees to make unreasonable timeframes but there’s nothing to suggest that in this case.

“It’s fortunate this hasn’t resulted in any injuries.”
The truck was bogged until about 11am with heavy haulage required to tow it out, and police want to speak to witnesses.

The incident came hours after police intercepted a car containing three knives, a small amount of methamphetamine, ice pipes and other items of interest.

Police had attempted to stop a car in Wangaratta about 1.30am Tuesday but the vehicle sped off, and the officers did not pursue it.

They patrolled the area for about half-an-hour and spotted the unattended vehicle, and waited for the man to return.

The driver, who was wanted, was arrested and faced court at Benalla.

He will return to court in Wangaratta on August 10.

Police are investigating a house fire in Wagga Wagga yesterday.

About 7pm (Tuesday 28 July 2015), emergency services responded to reports of a house on fire on Johnston Street.

On arrival officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command found a home engulfed in flames.

The fire was extinguished by Fire & Rescue NSW.

The premise was unoccupied at the time and no one was injured during the incident.

A crime scene has been established and will be examined by specialist forensic officers.

At this early stage of the investigation the fire, which destroyed a heritage-listed home, is being treated as suspicious.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist with their inquiries to call Wagga Wagga Police Station on 02 6922 2599 or Crime Stoppers.

Police in the Riverina region have charged a man with serious firearms offences after he was allegedly found in possession of prohibited firearms.

About 7am on Thursday (23 July 2015), police from Albury Local Area Command attended a property in Burrumbuttock, to speak with the occupant about an unrelated matter.

Whilst at the location, police conducted a safe storage of firearms inspection.

During the inspection police allegedly located two unregistered prohibited firearms, including a Ruger Mini 14 .223 and an Anschutz .22 Calibre Semi Automatic Rifle.

Detectives also observed offences relating to unsafe storage of ammunition and firearms.

The 52-year-old man was taken to Albury Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of possess unregistered firearm, two counts of unauthorised possession of prohibited firearm, two counts of use unregistered prohibited firearm, one count of not keep firearm safe and one count of not have approved safe storage.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Albury Local Court on 18 August 2015.

The man’s firearms licence has been suspended and all 25 of his firearms have been seized.

A NEW playgroup for children with additional needs is under way in Wangaratta.

Facilitator Roberta Pollard said while it was early days for the program, which launched in the first week of term three at The Hub in White Street, families were already making use of the initiative.

The playgroup is supported by the Sunshine Foundation, a charitable Trust which provided a $33,000 grant in response to an application lodged by Gateway Health, Wangaratta District Specialist School and Yarrunga Primary School.

Ms Pollard said the warm and inviting indoor play area at The Hub was the ideal environment for families of children with additional needs to gather for the free, weekly sessions, which could be tailored to children’s needs and offer them the chance to connect with others.

No diagnosis is required to take part in the playgroup, which caters for children in the 0 to four age group, and younger siblings are also welcome to attend.

Paula Duffy, who travelled from Bright this week to attend playgroup with son Jack, 3, encouraged others to become involved.

“It’s a great way to support each other,” she said.

“Jack was diagnosed with autism in January this year, and I thought this would be a great way to meet other parents of kids with autism.”

Sessions are held each Wednesday during school terms from 9.30am to 11.30am, and more information about the playgroup can be obtained by phoning Wangaratta District Specialist School on 57217424 or emailing wangaratta.ss@edumail.vic.gov.au.