‘Standing room only’ is the way a meeting held in Creswick this month to  discuss local concerns about crime – and try to find solutions – has been described.  

An estimated 130 to 150 local residents gathered at the town’s senior citizens rooms and met with police after a perceived rise in crime in the town has left many  residents deeply concerned and fed up.  

Social media posts had triggered a community discussion about crime, with  residents sharing phone and CCTV footage of individuals in the act of casing parked cars after dark and hooning around the town.

Police say the stats show the area’s crime rate has actually decreased since 2016-17,  many locals say they’re extremely fed up with what they’re seeing.  

Theft of private and public property – ranging from cars to copper piping and  even water meters – property damage, and burglary of local businesses are among the many recent complaints from the wider Creswick-Clunes area.  

In an effort to help tackle the issue, Hepburn shire mayor and Creswick local Cr Don Henderson convened this month’s public meeting, with local police and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett attending.

Cr Henderson says the meeting was constructive, allowing locals a chance to voice their concerns and experiences.

He says the formation of a taskforce bringing together  police, local government and support services, is now a priority.  

“It was positive. It highlighted to police and to Martha that we want something  done,” Cr Henderson said.

“A taskforce needs to be set up and people want it to happen reasonably quickly.  

“We need to tackle it as a community. There are a lot of families that are very  financially stressed, a lot of desperation, a lot of drug issues and a lot of mental health  issues.  

“We want to provide a safety net for people who genuinely need help. The idea of a taskforce is not just to catch the crooks but also to provide some answers to the  social problems.”  

Cr Henderson also believes the meeting resulted in residents gaining useful insights into how policing in Creswick and across the wider region operates, increasing community confidence around reporting crime, and about their ability to  obtain police attendance if required, at any hour.  

Creswick’s Acting Sergeant Marley Mookhoek, who attended, also rates the  meeting as positive.

He said that while the town’s station operates on 16-hour shift rosters, the community does have police coverage 24 hours a day.  

“A main concern of the community was that we are not a 24-hour station but  we do have 24-hour coverage in this area. We have units from Ballarat and Bacchus  Marsh patrolling this area.  

“Right now we’ve got six members (stationed at Creswick) which I believe is the most this station has ever had – and another one is gazetted.  

“I think that the meeting was great for the community to have a talk about what  they want to have addressed – a bigger emphasis on hoon behaviour and a bigger  emphasis on opportunistic crime.”

Acting Inspector Mookhoek said a weekend State Highway Patrol road blitz in the area had immediately followed the meeting and recorded strong results.  

“As a result of the operation two motorists were caught driving under the  influence of drugs, one drink driver was charged, three lost their licences due to excess speed, and we also impounded a car in Creswick yesterday (last Wednesday, January  22).  

“That vehicle was unregistered and was being driven by a 17-year-old driver who was unlicenced. And that State Highway Patrol operation is ongoing.”  

Acting Sergeant Mookhoek said much of the crime that has been occurring  locally is opportunistic, involving properties or cars that have been left unlocked.

He  urged locals to ensure they lock their houses, garages and cars.  “Most of the offences that are getting reported to us are opportunistic thefts.  

Seven out of 10 burglaries in Creswick involve houses being unlocked.  “I just want the community to know that we are here and very enthusiastic about  doing the best we can in helping the community.”

Ripon MP Martha Haylett, who attended the meeting, says she has raised the  issue with Police Minister Anthony Carbines.  

“A lot of great ideas were shared about how we can better address crime locally,” Ms Haylett said in a social media post following the meeting.  

“I have invited the Police Minister to visit and talk through options, and will keep  the community updated on next steps.  “Any victim of crime is one too many and our community deserves to feel safe.”  

Words & image: Eve Lamb  

The future is looking brighter at the Learmonth Football Netball Club following completion of a keenly anticipated project to deliver modern netball facilities.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson was joined by Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett MP to officially open the Learmonth Netball Courts and Lighting Project last week.

The $781,703 project received $531,703 in City of Ballarat funding and $250,000 from the State Government’s 2021/22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

The project delivered two new netball courts inclusive of LED sports lighting to 200 LUX, a shelter and fencing to current Netball Victoria Facility Guidelines.

Cr Hudson said the upgrades had already been well received since they were handed to the club during the 2023 Central Highlands Netball League season. The netball courts were completed in May and the lights were fully connected in August.

“It’s fantastic that such a deserving club like Learmonth has been able to already put these facilities to use. We even saw some finals matches played here and the A-grade team even went on to win the grand final,” Cr Hudson said.

“We know these upgrades were very much needed, so it’s great to transform the Learmonth courts into an incredible community facility.

“We thank the State Government for the support that ensures we are able to provide local communities with the sporting infrastructure they deserve.

“We’re planning further upgrades to the Learmonth football oval’s surface and lighting and are hoping with the support of Martha Haylett, the Member for Ripon, the State Government will partner with us again to help fund those works.”

The Learmonth Football Netball Club has more than 100 registered netballers and more than 200 registered footballers and club president Stephen Griffin said the new facilities would be of major benefit to the club.

“Our club is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to train and play on these new courts and facilities,” he said.  

“We are proud to host home games, finals, interleague games and look forward to the wider community utilising these premium facilities.”

Ripon MP Martha Haylett has handed out a petition to Clunes businesses and community groups encouraging locals and road users to show their support for speed reduction and safety improvements on the town’s Bailey Street bridge.
The petition seeks to reduce the speed limit from 60kmh to 40kmh over the Clunes bridge. The petition is at the Clunes Pharmacy, Widow Twankeys, Clunes Newsagents, Clunes IGA, @Fifty Two, Valley of Gold Service Station, Clunes Neighbourhood House, BOOM Clunes and O’Hara’s Café Bakery. Or sign online at www.marthahaylett.com.au.

In Creswick Martha Haylett MP opened the Hammon Park Trailhead in Creswick on May 5.

To celebrate, the Hepburn Shire Council is now inviting local residents to “join the fun at the Dirty Pig and Whistle ride event at Hammon Park on Saturday 20 May”.

Those interested are invited to get along, watch some of the races, try out
the jumps and the pump track, learn about the Creswick Trails and enjoy a
free coffee and face painting (10am to 12pm) at this fun community event.
Everyone is welcome.

Hammon Park is the trailhead for the Creswick Trails, a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails destined to be the site of the 2026 Commonwealth Games mountain bike events.

Hammon Park is a community-focused reserve with a cycling theme and includes cycling
jumps, pump track, cyclocross elements, children’s play area, learn to ride
bike track, BBQ area and space for a variety of events.

The reserve was funded through a grant from Regional Development Victoria’s Regional
Tourism Infrastructure Fund, a generous contribution from the Creswick
Community Bank and Council’s capital works funds.

If you need to ‘spend a penny’ or get changed for a swim or other sporty activity at Creswick’s beautiful Calembeen Park then you will no doubt notice the facilities to hand have recently become quite a bit swankier than they use to be.

The upgraded Calembeen Park facilities were opened in recent days – Friday,
March 24 – by Ripon MP Martha Haylett.

Fr thse who havewn’t checked it out already, the upgrades include refurbishment of the public amenities (three accessible unisex changerooms with toilet, shower and baby change facilities), an
accessible footpath leading from the changerooms to the lake concourse, an all abilities accessible
car parking space, drinking fountain, park furniture renewal and landscaping.

The $425,350 project was funded in partnership by the Victorian Government and
Hepburn Shire Council.

Calembeen Park’s two beautiful waterways are home to birdlife and waterlily displays.  Chinese miners first mined at the site for shallow alluvial gold between the 1850s and 1860s and it became a Chinese settlement.

The first recorded use for swimming was around 1910 and Calembeen Park’s lakes precinct is now increasingly popular for swimming, fishing, walking, the local park run which started in recent times, and cycling.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that the upgrade of these facilities was an important step in improving accessibility and connectivity at Calembeen Park.

“Calembeen Park is a much-loved community gathering spot and these upgraded facilities improve access for the community, but particularly those with a disability,” said Cr Hood.