Hoon hotline meeting

By Kath Gannaway
INFORMATION on a hoon hotline will be part of a meeting organisers say will provide a broad forum on the problem antisocial antics in Healesville.
As reported in the Mail last week, Healesville residents Val Owen and Des Harry called for a public meeting following recent deaths on Yarra Valley roads, and a continuing problem with speeding, wheelies, burnouts and other dangerous behaviour on local roads.
Healesville Rotarian Terry Hill will chair the meeting on Thursday, 10 November at the Healesville Memorial Hall starting at 7pm.
Mrs Owen and Healesville resident Kerri Goding, who is also Ryrie Ward candidate, met on Friday to organise speakers and discuss promoting the meeting within the community.
Mrs Goding said a number of organisations had already responded positively to an invitation to be part of the forum including police, schools, community groups and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
“We are hoping other government agencies such as VicRoads, local emergency services, community and sporting organisations and members of the community who are concerned about this problem will also attend to ensure the best possible debate and outcome on this issue,” Ms Goding said.
Shire of Yarra Ranges road safety officer Mark McGuire said the Shire of Yarra Ranges voted in favour of putting in a hoon hotline, similar to those operating in other municipalities, two weeks ago.
He said it would form part of a response to a problem he said was both a road safety and community safety issue in a much bigger picture.
He said the Shire has a number of programs available to schools aimed at educating young drivers but that these were not being used by local schools.
“It’s disappointing,” he said.
“We say to schools, you have swimming programs for your students, but how many of your kids swim to school?”
Mrs Owen said after two and a half years of campaigning for action on hoon drivers she is pleased that the issue will now be put before the community.
“What we have to do now is ensure that anyone who is affected by this behaviour and concerned about stopping it, knows they will at last have an opportunity to have their say and, hopefully, effect change,” she said.
A planning meeting will be held at the Supper Room in the Memorial Hall this Friday, 4 November, at 9am to set an agenda and discuss promoting the meeting.
“To make the most of this opportunity we need people to put their hand up to help out,” Mrs Owen said.
Anyone who can help is asked to call Ms Goding on 5962 6052.
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