Police are hoping for a repeat of last year’s fatality-free Easter period which contributed to a record low road toll, but are taking nothing for granted and will be out in force across the state over the next five days.

“Operation Tortoise” begins at midnight tonight (Wednesday) and concludes at 2359 hours on Monday, April 13. Double demerit points apply for all speeding and helmet and seatbelt offences during this time.

“Having a fatality free Easter last year was very encouraging but the year before we had ten deaths, police will be saturating the State’s roads again this Easter,” Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens said.

“We hold grave concerns that the NSW road toll has crept up to 115 so far this year, which is 15 more than this time last year.

“Eighty five (74%) of this year’s crashes have occurred on regional roads throughout the state, with many occurring on back roads rather than main highways.

“As a result, part of Operation Tortoise we will be paying particular attention to these back roads in regional areas.

“Police enforcement has been just one of many contributing factors to slashing the road toll over the last 30 years. Other factors include better roads and safer cars, but just as important is the attitude and vigilance of our drivers.

“If every driver in NSW sticks to the speed limit, wears seat belts, takes regular breaks and doesn’t drink and drive, it will go a long way towards minimising our Easter road toll and getting our annual road toll figures back on track.”

“No-one wants to lose a family member or friend on the road. Police will be out in force during the Easter period to help everyone arrive at their destination safely,” Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens said.

“NSW Police have zero tolerance for speed, drivers and passengers not wearing their seatbelts or helmets and drink driving. All of these are factors in fatal accidents state-wide.

“I urge motorists to slow down, drive to the conditions and take every safety precaution possible including wearing seat belts and wearing a helmet if riding a motorbike

“Don’t be complacent when on the road. Police will target back roads, not just the highways. Every life we save is someone’s loved one.”

During last year’s Easter operation police booked 6711 people for speeding, conducted 200,463 random breath tests and charged 508 people with drink driving offences. Police attended 705 major crashes.

Police have arrested 17 people and laid 35 charges during a two-day high-visibility policing operation in the Blue Mountains region.

“Operation Mega Daylight” was conducted within the Blue Mountains Local Area Command and concluded yesterday morning (Sunday, March 29).

The operation involved more than 100 police from the North West Metropolitan and Western policing regions - taking in five local area commands - and specialist officers, including local detectives, Rural Crime Investigators, the Dog Unit and Highway Patrol. RTA heavy vehicle inspectors also assisted in the operation.

The aim of Operation Mega Daylight was to provide a high visibility policing response and enforcement in a bid to dramatically reduce speed and alcohol-related crashes, whilst also targeting heavy vehicles, rural crimes and drug couriers.

Six people were charged with either possessing or supplying prohibited drugs.

The operation also focussed on serial disqualified drivers.

During the 48-hour campaign, 10 information reports were collected - seven of those related to Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) activity.

Operation Mega Daylight Commander, Superintendent Tony McWhirter, said the operation was successful and similar operations would be conducted in the future.

“520 heavy vehicles were stopped and their drivers spoken to,” Superintendent McWhirter said. “18 defective vehicles were taken off the road, which is important as we head towards the school holidays and people begin to plan their break.”

One motorist stopped by police during the operation was detected travelling at 153kmh in a 60kmh zone.

He was also charged with drink-driving after a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.146.

The 30-year-old Blackheath man was one of seven motorists charged with drink-driving after 3,513 random breath tests were conducted by police.

He is due to appear in Katoomba Local Court on 22 April 2009.

125 other traffic infringement notices were issued by police.

“When we pull someone over during an operation like this, we are not out to ruin their day,” Superintendent McWhirter said. “We are in the business of saving lives and preventing crashes.”

Members of the Life and Death Motorcycle Club were pulled over in Blackheath today as part of the NSW Police force’s ‘zero tolerance’ stance after a spate of bikie-related violence across Sydney and Canberra.

Club members were targeted for wearing their club ‘colours’ at Blackheath today - they were pulled over and searched by police without incident.

Fears of a ‘gang war’ between rival clubs are rife following the murder of Hells Angel Anthony Zervas, 29, who was clubbed to death with a metal bollard during a confrontation with members of the Comancheros at Sydney Airport on Sunday, March 22.

Numerous drive-by shootings have taken place across western Sydney, also believed to be bikie gang-related. A senior Bandidos member was arrested and charged this week in connection with several of the attacks.

The Life and Death Motorcycle Club has itself been linked with violence in the past, most recently with a shooting in June 2008 of one of its members, who was wounded in the leg by an unidentified assailant.

NSW RFS Inspector Eric Berry and his son, cadet senior deputy captain Damien Berry, have a chat on “AM With Mark and Sammi”, on community radio station BLU-FM 89.1 on Friday, March 27.

http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/file_system/attachments/Blue_Mountains/Attachment_20090327

Thousands of homes lost power overnight as powerful storms lashed the outer West and Blue Mountains.

At one point approximately 14,500 homes were without power in the lower Blue Mountains and Penrith areas. Some 500 remaining properties are still without power.

The State Emergency Service responded to scores of call-outs regarding fallen trees and roof damage.

Report dangerous electrical situations to Integral Energy on 131 003

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES [NSW] on telephone number 132 500.

Two missing bushwalkers have been found in the Kanangra Boyd National Park after activating an emergency tracking beacon.

About 3:30pm, Sunday, March 22, a 38-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman from Faulconbridge were bushwalking in the area when they got into difficulty and activated the emergency beacon.

As a result the Australian Search and Rescue organisation detected the beacon signal and police rescue were notified. 

A short time later a medical retrieval helicopter was dispatched and the pair were found at 5:15pm with one of them suffering from leg injuries. They were winched to safety and taken to Nepean Hospital for treatment.

Police are reinforcing the message to bushwalkers to plan their trips and be prepared in case of any emergency. 

The “Think before you TREK” program was launched late last year where bushwalkers can log the details of their trip with police from the Blue Mountains Local Area Command. The beacons are available from Katoomba and Springwood police stations. 

Inspector Steve Oswald from Blue Mountains police has encouraged people to take responsibility for their personal safety.

“We urge people to log their trip with us so we know their proposed route and duration”, Inspector Oswald said.

As part of this program bushwalkers can also obtain an emergency distress beacon for the duration of their trip and details of the program can be found at www.police.nsw.gov/trek.

There are a number of prescribed burns taking place each day this week and also on the weekend.

The following prescribed burns are planned for this week:

Tuesday: Sublime Point, Leura. 25ha.

Wednesday: Winbourne Ave, Hazelbrook. 52ha

Thursday: Chester Road, Wentworth Falls. 47ha.

Friday: Terpeian Rock, Katoomba. 6ha.

These activities are taking place on National Parks and Wildlife Service managed land, with some small areas of private property included, and are approved activities under the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Management Committee’s Hazard Reduction Programme.

For more information and maps, visit http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_info.cfm?CON_ID=6773&CAT_ID=76

The 8am traffic jam on Lapstone Hill today.

Commuter traffic leaving the Blue Mountains ground to a halt this morning on the Great Western Highway at Lapstone Hill after a 4WD rolled at the base of the Blue Mountains around 7am.

A 4WD towing a trailer lost control as it descended the hill and flipped over. The 4WD landed on an embankment at the side of the highway, while the trailer broke away and came to rest on the other side of the road several hundred metres away.

The driver appeared to be in shock but was unhurt.

The wreckage and a petrol spill closed off half of the highway, which saw traffic back up to Glenbrook for almost an hour. By 8.30am traffic was moving once again.

Got a Blue Mountains traffic story and pictures? Send it to bluemountainsjournal @ live . com

One of the most gruelling marathon races in Australia was held today - The Six Foot Track.
The event consists of a 45km footpath stretching across the Blue Mountains from The Explorer’s Marked Tree, near Katoomba, to Jenolan Caves. The marathon started in 1984 and is Australia’s fifth largest marathon.
The race is a fundraiser for the Rural Fire Service & Six Foot Track Heritage Trust and attracts more than 850 entrants each year.

The results…

Men

Pos   First Name   Last Name   Gun Time

1. Sleep TRAIN - 3:15:25
2. Andrew LEE - 3:23:58
3. Alex MATTHEWS - 3:24:54
4. Don WALLACE - 3:27:11
5. Matthew ROBBIE - 3:31:42
6. Tim COCHRANE - 3:33:08
7. Anthony SCOTT - 3:39:56
8. David OSMOND - 3:40:17
9. Tony FATTORINI - 3:41:08
10. Andrew TUCKEY - 3:42:27
11. David HOSKING - 3:47:18
12. Martin FRYER - 3:47:45
13. Terence BELL - 3:49:20
14. David TURNER - 3:49:28

Women

Pos   First Name   Last Name   Gun Time

1. Vanessa HAVERD - 03:57:51 
2 . Jackie FAIRWEATHER - 04:02:27 
3. Colleen MIDDLETON - 04:03:50
4. Amanda MCLEOD 4:05:44
5. Fleur FLANERY 04:13:36 49 
6. Narelle PATRICK 04:32:33 85 4 6 9.9 
7. Jenny HENVILLE 04:38:40 
8. Jess BAKER 04:41:13 
9. Beth CARDELLI 04:42:26 
10. Tressa LINDENBERG 04:45:17 Go Tressa!
11. Amanda UNDERWOOD 04:48:54
12. Judith BRISCOE 04:51:01 Good work Judy. 
13. Elizabeth BENNETT 04:51:33 
14. Nelida HARDS 04:51:50 

Read all of the results here: http://multisportaustralia.racetectiming.com/default.aspx

Read more about the actual event here: http://www.sixfoot.com/index.php

AM with Mark and Sammi Horton - interviewing NSW RFS Inspector Eric Berry.

http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au/file_system/attachments/
Blue_Mountains/Attachment_20090313_FDD8EFDD.mp3

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