News photographer Megan Rogers caught four-wheel drive hoons red handed in the scrub behind Grant Street, Cranbourne. By Glen Atwell
HOT headed hoons driving four-wheel drives and motorbikes have destroyed hectares of scrubland behind Grant Street in Cranbourne.
One local resident, Brian Lackman, has declared enough is enough, and the committee of management responsible for the land has vowed to crack down on the unruly behaviour.
The Crown land is located between the Cranbourne Racecourse and Cemetery Road.
Mr Lackman said the once peaceful walking tracks and grassed reserve had been churned up into a makeshift four-wheel drive training centre.
“These hoons have wrecked all the natural vegetation and turned the area into a muddy swamp,” he said.
“It’s illegal and something has to be done.”
News photographer Meagan Rogers investigated the scene last week and arrived to find two four-wheel drive vehicles revving up their engines.
Mrs Rogers said when one of the drivers saw her taking photos, he immediately accelerated towards her.
“He tried to come up the steep hill to where I was standing,” she said. “His behaviour was very intimidating.”
Mr Lackman lives next door to the scrubland and said he was fed up with the noise and damage.
“It used to be the perfect place to walk with the dog and there were native birds flying around. Now there’s nothing but hoons and mud,” Mr Lackman said.
“On any given Saturday or Sunday afternoon, there will also be around 15 motorbikes buzzing around in there.
“They just do as they please and the local police won’t do anything about it,” Mr Lackman said.
The hoon haven is part of a large undeveloped area of state owned land located along and behind Grant Street and is managed by the recreation reserve committee of management.
Groups located on the land include the Cranbourne Bowls Club, Cranbourne Tennis Club, Cranbourne Indoor Heated Pool and the local ambulance station.
The Casey Comets soccer pitch, located on O’Tooles Road, is also a tenant.
Chairman of the recreation reserve committee of management Geoff Whiffin said he had been aware of the hoon hot spot for a long time.
“It’s been a 20-year issue,” he said.
“Policing the use of crown land is very difficult. We can’t just fence the whole area off because it is public land.”
“If we stop motorbikes and vehicles, we might also stop dog walkers and other users,” Mr Whiffin said.
The committee has, however, obtained quotes for fencing off the problem areas, according to Mr Whiffin.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge, also a member of the recreation reserve committee, said he was aware the land was being illegally used by motorbike riders and four wheel drive owners.
“I am aware there is considerable concern in the community about the amount of vehicles using the land in an unlawful manner,” he said.
“The reserve behind Grant Street was once well grassed. It now suffers from bad wear and tear due to the use of motorbikes and vehicles.”
“Fencing is the obvious solution to the problem but, in saying that, the area is a great piece of land that should be better utilised by walkers, bicycle riders and weekend picnickers,” Mr Bainbridge said.
City of Casey manager community safety Caroline Bell said by calling the Hoon Hotline, reports of careless and irresponsible driving would be forwarded to local police traffic management units.
“The City of Casey encourages any person that witnesses an incident to call the toll free Hoon Hotline number on 1800 18 HOON,” she said.
“Obtaining registration numbers, although advantageous, is not mandatory as profiles are developed on hotspot locations, not just offending vehicles.
“I encourage residents to call the toll free hotline as often as these offences occur so their area can be identified as an area in need of police attention and enforcement,” Ms Bell said.
