Easter motorists urged to drive carefully

NSW motorists planning a getaway for Easter are being urged to take care on what are likely to be wet, slippery roads.

Police will be out in force over the long weekend as part of Operation Tortoise, targeting speeding, seat belt offences, drink driving and other driver infractions.

Senior Constable John Lyall, an officer attached to the Highway Patrol, said it was important that drivers showed patience, particularly during the inevitable delays.

"Attending an accident scene is horrific and a lot of these occur during public holiday periods," Sen Const Lyall told reporters on Wednesday.

"Our aim is to make sure that everyone gets to their destination and returns safely as well."

With wet weather and slippery road conditions predicted over the weekend, assistant commissioner and traffic and highway patrol commander John Hartley said the best thing that drivers could do was to be prepared and take regular breaks.

Police Minister Michael Gallacher said a key aim of Operation Tortoise was to repeat the statistics from the Australia Day long weekend where there were zero fatalities.

"Operation Tortoise is an annual event, and it's an opportunity to remind people to take care of themselves, to take care of their family and to take care of other motorists," Mr Gallacher

"Sadly there were three deaths last Easter."

Operation Tortoise starts at midnight on Wednesday and continues until midnight on Monday.

Double demerit points apply for speeding, seat belt and helmet offences.

View the original article here

Wedding party mediation urged

A COURT has urged a group of wealthy residents and an eastern Sydney council to continue mediation talks over their dispute about weddings being held in a local park.

Residents of Darling Point, led by media tycoon Kerry Stokes, have taken Woollahra Municipal Council to the Supreme Court in a bid to ban wedding ceremonies at McKell Park.

The park has hosted at least 70 events, mainly weddings, in the past year.

Residents claim the council operates the park like a function centre and say the ceremonies are noisy and clog the streets.

In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Registrar Christopher Bradford adjourned the matter until March 14 but urged lawyers for the parties to work towards further mediation in the matter.

In response to community concerns the council has restricted the number of events in the park to two per day with a two-hour maximum on weekends, with guest numbers reduced and seating banned.

Woollahra Mayor Andrew Petrie said last week there could be potential consequences for functions in parks across NSW if the case succeeded.

View the original article here