Drug busts
POLICE have charged 13 people with drug and weapons offences on the Bellarine Peninsula this month.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said all were bailed to appear in court after a series of arrests at Ocean Grove, Portarlington, Queenscliff, Barwon Heads and St Leonards this month.
Rates hike
SURF Coast rates are set to rise more than four times faster than inflation next financial year.
Councillors this week agreed to impose an average hike of 5.5 per cent on residential properties, compared to inflation currently running around 1.3 per cent.
High wires
A NEW metalwork wire contraption that appeared over the intersection of Moorabool and Malop Sts this week is part of a program to light up Geelong.
City Hall confirmed the installation was part of “catenary lighting” for Christmas celebrations and other civic events.
Parks crackdown
PRIVATE car park operators face a state crackdown on dodgy practices that produce excessive or bogus fines, Geelong MP Christine Couzens has warned.
She said practices in the spotlight included fining drivers while they searched for correct change for pay-ticket machines that accepted only $2 coins.
Claims jump
A RISE in car thefts has boosted RACV insurance claims in Geelong, the motoring organisation has revealed.
The RACV said it paid out an additional $214,000 last year on 23 additional thefts compared to 2013, with 69 stolen in Geelong and Surf Coast last year.
ARC endorsed
GEELONG’S council has endorsed a $33 million community hub plan with health services for Norlane.
Council said it would “continue negotiations” with Barwon Health on the State Government’s proposed Northern ARC facility to combine various health and community services on the corner of Melbourne and Cox Rds.
Flag trialled
VICROADS will trial a new flag aimed at “raising driver awareness” of a school crossing at Airey’s Inlet.
The roads authority said it chose the Surf Coast town for the trial because of the crossing’s “poor sight distance” for drivers.
