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.

Will Blue Mountains railway staff be headed for the chopping block? That’s the question that has Blue Mountains residents buzzing.

Opposition Transport spokeswoman Gladys Berejiklian raised the initial alarm about station staff disappearing, and the State Government has in the past few hours confirmed that cuts are planned, but stressed that all station employees will be redeployed, not sacked.

That doesn’t help Blue Mountains commuters who often need the help of staff when ticket machines malfunction…and it appears to merely add to the overall public transport chaos plaguing Sydney and its surrounds.

Former Olympic transport chief Ron Christie has blown the whistle on Labor’s wrong public transport priorities, saying the Rees Government is ‘doing nothing’ to help families in Western Sydney, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said today.

“Ron Christie’s comments support the NSW Liberal/Nationals plan to give priority to building rail links to Sydney’s South West and North West,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“The South West and North West rail links will deliver much needed public transport to Sydney’s major growth centres to support sustainable growth into the future – something the Labor Government has failed to do,” he said.

“Ron Christie is right: the Rees Labor Government can’t abandon the thousands of families moving into South West and North West Sydney if this city is to continue to be a good place to work and live.

“Nathan Rees must build the South West and North Rail Links before he spends $5 billion on a metro to Rozelle.”

Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Liberal/Nationals were committed to meeting the transport needs of families and businesses in Sydney’s South West and North West.

“The decision to axe the North West and South West rail links makes no sense, especially considering the Labor Government’s plan to move 300,000 people into the South West region over the coming 20 years, and only recently having announced plans for another North West industrial park,” she said.

“Ron Christie’s comments support the NSW Liberal/Nationals priority to build rail links to Sydney’s South West and North West.

“Building rail links to Sydney’s western suburbs is the only way to avoid complete traffic gridlock across this city.
 
“Nathan Rees ought to listen to Ron Christie instead of pursuing a rail policy focused on Labor’s electoral prospects and not the transport needs of families in Western Sydney.

“Building the South West and North West rail links will get people out of their cars and help ease traffic congestion.

“The State Labor Government originally costed the South West, North West and new Harbour crossing rail links at $8 billion – building one $5 billion metro to an area already well serviced by public transport simply makes no sense,” Ms Berejiklian said.

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.

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

Roads Minister Michael Daley officially opened the $110 million upgrade of the Great Western Highway from Leura to Katoomba on Sunday, March 15, designed to improve traffic flow and road safety for motorists travelling to and from NSW’s central west. 

As part of the official opening Minister Daley, State Member for the Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg, Federal Member for Macquarie Bob Debus and key community members toured the newly completed section on a double-decker bus.

Mr Daley said the State Government funded project from Willow Park Avenue in Leura to Bowling Green Avenue, Katoomba was an important milestone in the highway upgrade and a win for local residents.

“Not only has this project created about 100 jobs for the local community, it will also have lasting benefits for the Blue Mountains community and motorists throughout NSW,” he said.

“The highway has now been widened by two extra lanes over this three kilometre section, increasing capacity for the 35,000 cars that use this section of the highway every day.

“Improvements to safety have always been a priority for this project, particularly for the local community who live on either side of this busy highway.

“A number of intersections have been upgraded to separate local traffic from the highway, with safe new accesses to the towns to encourage visitors into this beautiful part of NSW.

“I would like to thank the local community for their extensive input into this project throughout the planning, design and construction stages.

“Local knowledge goes along way and it really shows in this project.

“I’d also like to thank the State Member for the Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg and the Federal Member for Macquarie Bob Debus for their tireless work in making sure the entire highway gets the funding assistance it needs,” he said.

Mr Daley said the $560 million Great Western Highway upgrade involves widening the highway to four lanes between Emu Plains and Katoomba and to three lanes from Katoomba to Mount Victoria in most sections.

“So far 15 sections have been completed, and work is now starting on two new sections.

“Work on highway widening at Lawson between Bass and Ridge Streets to four lanes started last month to improve safety and traffic efficiency through the town,” he said.

The $220 million project is expected to finished in early 2011, weather permitting, and includes the upgrade of local intersections and new pedestrian/cycle paths to improve local road safety.

Mr Daley also announced that the contract for the Wentworth Falls East section of the highway upgrade had been awarded to Fulton Hogan.

“This means that work on this section can now start next month, providing more jobs for the local community as the upgrade of the Great Western Highway continues to roll out,” he said.

“Work on the $115 million Wentworth Falls section is due to finish in early 2012, and will include major improvements to local intersections as well as an off-road cycleway/footpath.

“Altogether, these projects will create or maintain over 500 full-time or part-time jobs,” Mr Daley said.

Mr Daley finished by saying he was extremely happy to be able to share these milestones with the community.

“This highway is of national importance, and we will continue working closely with the Federal Government to improve travel times and road safety for the people in Sydney’s west,” he said.

The RTA has received more than 450 submissions in response to the recent display of corridors for the Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway upgrade.
These corridors are areas in which investigations will take place to search for route options. The RTA is now carefully considering each submission as well as issues raised during the display.
An RTA spokesperson said the issues raised in the submissions tell the RTA if the corridors need to be broadened or narrowed and whether there is an issue in a corridor that cannot be resolved.
The spokesperson said the display of the five corridors was initially available for public comment from 17 November 2008 until 22 December 2008, but was extended until 30 January 2009 following requests from community members.
“Because of the extension of the display period and the number of submissions, more time is required to assess the submissions and we now expect the corridors to be confirmed in several weeks time,” the spokesperson said.
“Government agencies are also providing their comments.
“The RTA would like to thank all interested parties for the time and effort they put into the submissions,” the spokesperson said.
“Any route identified in this project must bypass the village of Mount Victoria, replace the steep grades of Victoria Pass and bypass River Lett Hill,” the spokesperson said.
Three of the corridors run through the Hartley Valley, a fourth across Newnes Plateau and the fifth generally along the existing route of the Great Western Highway.
The spokesperson said that once the RTA has confirmed the corridors it will be asking the community to help identify any possible routes within the five corridors.