Drunks scare off horse riders

By Callan Date
A BERWICK resident is voicing her concern over dangerous and reckless behaviour by drunken youths hanging out near a local horseriding trail.
Michelle Terlato and her sevenyearold daughter Ashleigh regularly use the track near Old Coach Road but have been scared off the area in recent weeks following several intimidating confrontations with the unruly group.
Ms Terlato said her enjoyable riding days were now limited to certain hours and days of the week in order to avoid the abuse. “They are often drinking alcohol up there and driving their cars dangerously along the roads,” Ms Terlato said.
“People are starting to know it as a place to congregate and I really think something should be done about it before it gets out of hand.”
Ms Terlato said her horses had become quite distressed on several occasions over the past month when they had been ridden past the group.
“They definitely get a bit jumpy and you have to get off the horse and this just makes it more scary for us.” Ms Terlato said she had taken up her displeasure with City of Casey officials but nothing had been done to curb the unruly behaviour.
“Other horse riders and bushwalkers have also had to deal with the abuse.” She said those using the track were also confronted with loud music and speeding motorists who use the adjoining roads near the track.
Casey Manager of Communications Ros Britz said council had recently received a complaint regarding public drinking at the end of Old Coach Road.
“To address this matter the area is being monitored as part of local laws patrols,” Ms Britz said.