1647 RBTs conducted in Whitsundays before Christmas

Twelve drink drivers were nabbed during an early Christmas police traffic operation over the weekend.

Police from the State Traffic Task Force and Roadside Drug Testing Unit were involved in Traffic Operation Paddington, which focussed on drink/drug driving, speed, seatbelts and fatigue, for three days last week.

Police covered the Whitsunday and Proserpine area, with Bowen, Proserpine and Mackay Traffic Branch, Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, Whitsunday and Proserpine Police also taking part.

The operation was also run in conjunction with the Christmas road safety campaign.

From 132 roadside drug tests, five offenders were caught while 12 drink drivers were stopped out of 1647 RBTs.

Seven people were found to be driving while unlicensed, 61 speeding tickets were issued and 16 people were caught not wearing a seatbelt.

On Friday 10.40pm a 29-year-old male from Western Australia was intercepted on Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale and BAC of .092.

The male was charged with drink driving and his licence was suspended for 24 hours.

On Saturday, at 7.52am the following morning the same male was intercepted on Shute Harbour road and gave a breath alcohol reading of .114 per cent and charged with drink driving and unlicensed driving. Then at 10.30am the male again drove along Shute Harbour Road. Police from the State Traffic Task Force have impounded the driver’s vehicle and charged him with unlicensed driving.

Australian Cricketer Matt Hayden brings Operation Sunshine to the Whitsundays

 Australian cricketing legend Matthew Hayden was in the Whitsundays last week to film the finale of his ‘Operation Sunshine’ campaign. Operation Sunshine was launched as an initiative of the ‘Hayden Way’, to spread the ‘open for business’ message to all Australians following Queensland’s cyclones and floods.

 “What’s left behind is communities of people on all levels who need patronage,” Matthew said.

 As part of Operation Sunshine Matthew has travelled through much of Queensland, blogging, tweeting and filming along the way.

 “I’ve been an athlete for a long time. I had phenomenal support from the people of Queensland and I guess this is my way of saying ‘thanks’,” he said.

 Matthew described his time in the Whitsundays as “amazing”.

 “I love Queenslanders. I love Airlie Beach. It’s been a fantastic week.”

 Tourism Whitsundays Chief Executive Officer Peter O’Reilly said the Operation Sunshine team toured Airlie Beach, checking Whitehaven Beach and inspecting the Great Barrier Reef from above and below during the visit.

 “We made sure to schedule in visits to our greatest icons during Matthew’s visit, so that he can assure everyone they’re looking great and ready to welcome visitors,” Mr O’Reilly said.

 Matthew praised the efforts of all those involved in making Operation Sunshine “connect”.

 “We’ve got such beautiful pictures revealing the spectacular sights of Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays,” he said.

 Member for Whitsunday and Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt said Matthew’s patronage of the region was priceless.

 “Matt’s a trusted person and he’s endorsing our product,” Ms Jarratt said.

 Heavily supported by Channel Seven throughout his tour, Matthew also appeared alongside weather presenter James Tobin on Sunrise at Airlie Beach last Friday.

 From June 6 aggregated content from Operation Sunshine will appear on the “C’mon Australia – nothing beats Queensland” campaign.

 For more information visit www.operationsunshine.com.au