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.”

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.