WTF: Crossing cost, stuck in Market Square, Norlane dust up

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. This week’s instalment includes the cost of a rainbow crossing, a brawl outside a fish and chip shop and two women locked in a shopping centre.

WTF

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

Geelong’s deputy mayor Anthony Aitken addresses the gathering at the unveiling of the Rainbow Crossing in Yarra St in December 2023. Picture: City of Greater Geelong.

CROSSING COST

The presence of people wearing Australia One attire at recent Geelong council meetings has been unmissable.

Not least because they have been putting themselves front and centre during public question time.

Bit of background.

NSW-based conspiracy theorist and former special forces soldier Riccardo Bosi is founder of Australia One.

Mr Bosi unsuccessfully stood as an independent upper house candidate in last year’s NSW election (Australia One is not a registered political party), where he received 0.78 per cent of first preference votes.

Riccardo Bosi delivering a speech to protesters during the True Blue Crew Aussie Pride March in Sydney in 2018. Picture: Danny Casey.

He has spoken at several anti-vaccine and anti-government rallies.

In bizarre scenes at July’s council meeting, a man wearing an Australia One jacket took to the microphone to claim City Hall was part of an American organisation.

Geelong council was also an unlawful entity because it has an Australian business number, bemused councillors were told.

Then, in a move Dennis Denuto would be proud of, he cited the “Chevron case”.

A key focus of the group has been the cost of the rainbow crossing on Yarra St.

Unveiled in December, the colourful crossing is “a symbol of pride in the diversity of the region and a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

“We really need to follow up that one,” a frustrated mayor Trent Sullivan said after again being asked the cost last month.

“I think this is the third council meeting we’ve heard that request, so that information has to be provided.”

The Addy can confirm the crossing cost $43,544, which, regardless of your political persuasion, seems a bit over the odds.

WTF: Two women were stuck in Market Square on Wednesday evening.

TRAPPED IN THE SQUARE

It’s not a great place to be, even when you want to.

So one can only feel sorry for the two women who got stuck in Market Square after hours on Wednesday evening.

The pair were enjoying a pop-up art exhibition near the Malop St entrance when the shutter doors shut, locking them in.

They began “screaming” for help, which was heard by a passer-by who made security aware.

But, fast forward half an hour and it was a bin man who was the hero of the day, hearing the trapped women and setting them free.

Much like Boost Juice, Gloria Jeans, Lincraft and Cotton On, they were pleased to see the back of the centre.

NORLANE DUST UP

Footage emerged last week of an animated disagreement out the front of a fish and chip shop in Geelong’s northern suburbs.

According to the director of said footage, two men became disgruntled following a monetary disagreement.

“Just one bloke said the other one owed him money so they started fighting,” he said.

A number of not to be repeated profanities has forced this masthead to mute the video’s audio.

“You think I’m scared of you? No c*** is scared of you Rob,” one of the men said.

“I’m not scared of you either,” the other man replied.

The video is another instalment in a recent spate of biffs emerging online.

Earlier this month, a wild road rage brawl erupted in the middle of one of Geelong’s main roads.

In late July, A shirtless tradie and a shop owner exchanged blows in a brawl in the CBD.

WTF: A South Geelong man was upset after Barwon Water put a hole in his hedge.

HEDGE FUND

A South Geelong man is accusing Barwon Water employees of damaging his hedge, resulting in damages he says will cost anywhere up to $1000.

Jon Dodd said a pair of meter readers cut a hole in his “big and very established” hedge last week.

“I spent so many years on that hedge,” he said.

“It used to be you’d open the door and you look at it and see this really nice, complete hedge, now the first thing guests see is this massive hole.”

While Barwon Water has since apologised, offered to send a horticulturalist for six months and a $100 bill credit, Mr Dodd said it could take years to grow back and cost in the thousands.

“I talked to some hedge guys and they said that the problem is someone needs to stop by every couple of weeks because they have to make sure it is growing in the right place.

“It could be a couple thousand, because they have to stop by your house and to 15 to 20 minutes every month.”

Barwon Water general manager of customers, community and strategy Laura Kendall said the organisation’s horticulturalist found “no long term damage” to the hedge, and the organisation has installed an electronic meter reader to avoid any damage in the future.

Originally published as WTF: Crossing cost, stuck in Market Square, Norlane dust up