More arrests are expected in the outer eastern suburbs this week after nine people were charged following drugs raids last week.
Five properties in Ferntree Gully, Bayswater, Croydon and Vermont were raided by the Croydon divisional tasking unit and nine people, including two members of the outlaw motorcycle gang the Immortals, were charged with a range of offences including trafficking amphetamines, possessing and using a drug of dependence, possessing proceeds of crime, and theft-related offences. All were bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court in December.
The tasking unit's officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland, said police found a substantial quantity of amphetamines at a number of properties, as well as two stolen cars, stolen property and a large quantity of cash.
Three arrests in relation to car thefts were made in Ferntree Gully and Vermont last week. Operation Vitalist is being run by the tasking unit and is focused on car theft in the eastern suburbs. Several cars that had not been located during earlier crime investigations were recovered as part of the ongoing operation.
Community house awarded
Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully won an award last week for its approach to learning. The team was named n the community-based Adult Learning Provider of the Year and team leader Leanne FitzGerald accepted the award at the ceremony in Byron Bay. Ms FitzGerald credited the win to some of the unique activities the team organised for adult learning, including a weekly television program for Channel 31, a community newspaper, two history books,
community food garden and regular
fund-raising events.
EPA breach defended
Baird Ward candidate Garrie James has defended his 2001 prosecution by the Environment Protection Authority over chemical spills at his Bayswater family timber treatment company which was fined $30,000 and company director Mr James was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for causing environmental hazard and failing to obtain relevant environmental approvals. TW Timber (now Outdoor Timber Wholesale) built its treatment plant without a works approval from the EPA, but Mr James said they were given bad advice by a consultant. He said the decisions had been made before he was company director, a position he took on when his father could no longer serve in that position. "I was liable for what other staff did. I admitted fault and we dealt with it."