Oil spill slows city traffic | Teens arrested after alleged motorcycle hooning | Schools locked down as police swarm
Two fishermen have been rescued after their stricken vessel ran aground in Tasmania’s south. Meanwhile, a man has been charged after an alleged assault involving a knife and metal bar. LATEST BREAKING NEWS >>
Police & Courts
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For the latest, follow The Beat, the Mercury’s live breaking news blog with the latest traffic, police, fire and ambulance news across the state.
Boat runs aground – Betsey Island
8PM Tuesday March 23
TWO fishermen were rescued after their stricken vessel ran aground at Betsey Island in Tasmania’s south.
Their vessel had broken down and struck rocks, with police vessels and two private boats who were in the area attending the island.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was then used to rescue the men who were stranded on the island. They were rescued about 2pm.
The vessel was removed from the scene.
Police thanked the private boat owners for their help.
Assault charges
A MAN has been charged following an alleged serious assault where another man suffered injuries from a knife and metal bar.
The 61-year-old victim received non-life-threatening injuries after the incident at Sorell on Sunday.
Police said his car was also stolen and later allegedly set on fire.
A Glenorchy man, 27, has been charged with offences including aggravated armed robbery, stealing and unlawfully setting fire to property.
Oil Spill – Hobart
Tuesday March 23
UPDATE: Brooker Avenue and Brisbane Street areas in Hobart are now open after an oil spill.
Gravel dust has been placed on the road so motorists should continue to use caution in the area.
INITIAL: Hobart city traffic will likely be affected by an oil spill in the CBD.
Roads affected include the Railway Roundabout, Brooker Ave, Brisbane St and Murray St.
A lane will be closed between Brooker Highway and Brisbane St and Brisbane St and Murray St in Hobart while the scene is cleared from an earlier oil spill.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution and avoid the area until the scene is clear.
Tasmania Police expect significant traffic delays.
More to come …
Teens arrested after alleged motorcycle hooning
3.30pm:
TWO teens have been arrested after allegedly hooning – one helmetless – on the opposite side of the road on a motorcycle.
Monday morning Tasmania Police were tipped off by members of the public about a blue and white road bike driving dangerously in Bridgewater.
The bike was reported to have two riders with the pillion not wearing a helmet, travelling at high speeds on the wrong side of the road, and breaking other road rules.
Police attempted to intercept the motorcycle to no avail.
Bridgewater Police deployed the drone which tracked the motorcycle to parkland in Gagebrook where two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, both from Bridgewater were arrested.
The 16-year-old was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, evade police and unlicensed riding. He was bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court.
Police have seized the motorcycle, and will apply to have the vehicle forfeited, Inspector Philippa Burk said.
“The motorbike was seized indefinitely, and an application will be made for the forfeiture of the road bike.
“Police will continue to target the illegal use of trail bike and road bikes with drones, saying the behaviour is a risk to rider, passenger and other road users.”
Three schools locked down
10.30am:
Police have located a man following a report of a person acting suspiciously in the New Town area a short time ago.
Police were notified of a single report of a man potentially carrying a knife in the St Johns Ave area about 9.40am and quickly responded to the scene.
The man was located a short time later, was subsequently searched and was not located with a knife.
Police confirmed nearby schools — including Ogilvie High School and New Town primary and high schools — implemented their lock down procedures as a precaution.
Initial investigations suggest the man was not carrying a weapon, did not enter school properties, no threats were made and no one was injured.
A statement on Ogilvie High School’s Facebook page confirmed the school did go into lockdown for a short time.
“This was a precaution based on the sighting of a suspicious person in the community,” the statement read.
“Measures were taken, including informing Tas Police and Learning Services. The police have now found and dealt with the suspicious individual who was sighted in our local community.
“We can assure you that the matter has now been resolved. We will notify parents/ families directly if anything further comes to light.”
Wounding incident – Sorell
MONDAY MARCH 22
Police are searching for two men after a wounding incident in Sorell left a 61-year-old with lacerations to his head and neck over the weekend.
The incident occurred at 1.45pm Sunday afternoon.
Police confirmed they are looking for two male suspects believed to have fled the area in a 2002 maroon Toyota Rav 4 stolen from victim’s address.
The car was found on fire at 2:10pm in Bakers Road, Penna – between Sorell and Richmond.
According to Tasmania Police, Witnesses reported seeing a silver utility, similar to a Holden Commodore, in the area at the time.
The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
Police wish to speak with anyone who may have information about the incident or dashcam footage of a maroon Toyota Rav 4 travelling on the Tasman and Arthur Highways between Schofield Drive, Sorell and Bakers Road, Penna between 1:50pm – 2:00pm yesterday.
Information can be provided to Bellerive CIB on 131444.
Mine works impacted by protest
MONDAY MARCH 22
PROTESTERS have returned to a mine site on Tasmania’s west coast after arrests last week.
About 20 activists have again blocked access to Venture Minerals’ Riley Creek mine site and one has locked themselves to a crane.
Dr Lisa Searle has attached herself to the crane which is being used to construct a wet screening plant to extract iron ore.
“By immobilising the crane, we are preventing Venture Minerals from completing construction of the plant and creating any further damage to this land,” Dr Searle said.
“Venture Minerals is planning to use the profits from this Riley Creek strip mine to fund two much larger and even more destructive projects in the ancient rainforests of Mount Lindsay and Mount Livingstone. These mines will create huge scars across the takayna landscape, and irreversible damage to habitats of many threatened and endangered species.
“Venture minerals should get out and stay out of takayna/Tarkine. This is Aboriginal land and we are campaigning for takayna to be returned to Aboriginal ownership.”
Three arrests were made last week after police were called to the site in as many days.
Venture Minerals CEO Andrew Radonjic said the company respected people’s right to protest.
“But that doesn’t give them the right to trespass and it doesn’t give them the right to prevent our employees and contractors from performing their lawful work on a mine with incredibly low environmental impact while creating 100 jobs and significant activity,” Mr Radonjic said.
The arrival of equipment to build a screening plant to wash and separate the ore at the mine site is understood to have sparked the latest protest.
Venture confirmed the structural, mechanical, piping and electrical installation of the Wet Screening Plant had begun with Crisp Bros and Haywards now installing the first of the structural steel that makes up the plant’s framework.
Venture has also hired a general manager, a construction manager and a shipping officer.
“As the Company moves towards its first iron ore shipment, the Riley Mine Development team is quickly falling into place with a perfect blend of start-up and operational experience in
the iron ore space,” the company told the ASX recently.
Charges over armed robbery
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 3:30pm
A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been charged following a brazen robbery in the Southern Midlands.
About 4.30am Saturday, two men allegedly gained entry to the Kempton home of a 74-year-old man and 60-year-old woman before demanding the takings from the post office, which is run by the couple.
The northern suburbs man — who was charged with aggravated robbery, burglary and stealing, and possessing a controlled drug — will appear in out of hours court tonight.
A second man wearing a grey hoodie is still wanted by police.
Detective Inspector Craig Joel urged anyone living in the area with CCTV or who has dashcam footage from the area near Kempton at the time of the incident to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au or 1800 333 000.
“That footage may be critical to the police investigation,” he said.
Serious crash at Dunalley
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 3pm:
The crash on Arthur Hwy and Spotswood Rd is clear and the road is open.
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 12:30pm:
Police, Fire and Ambulance Tasmania are on scene of a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Arthur Highway and Spotswood Rd, Dunalley.
The road is partially obstructed but not blocked, so traffic delays are expected.
There are no life-threatening injuries reported at this time.
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 12pm:
Police and other emergency services are responding to reports of a serious crash involving a motor vehicle and a motorcycle at the intersection of Arthur Hwy and Spotswood Rd, Dunalley.
Any injuries are unknown at this early stage.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
Everybody appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court, Wednesday, February 12
Here is a list of people appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court on February 12.
Part-time pastor convicted of grooming child parishioner
A Hobart church performed an “internal investigation” into a part-time pastor accused of grooming a young girl before the girl’s doctor reported the matter to police, a Hobart judge found.