South East Queensland’s Moreton Bay Regional Council is using funds from the Federal Government to upgrade and expand its closed circuit television (CCTV) technology and public lighting.
The funding comes under the Government’s Safer Suburbs Plan, which aims to address crime and antisocial behaviour.
Moreton Bay Regional Council secured $1 million in funding under the Plan to extend coverage of the region’s CCTV network and upgrade lighting at Kaloween Park, Kippa-Ring.
The investment in infrastructure aims to deter crime in the Moreton Bay region.
The Safer Suburbs Plan will deliver fixed surveillance cameras in five key locations across the region, in addition to roving CCTV units.
“This is a sound, worthwhile investment in the safety of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions,” said Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland.
“It will give police the hard evidence they need to prosecute the perpetrators of crime and antisocial behaviour in public places.
“Our community is entitled to feel safe, as are visitors to the region and the businesses who contribute to our local economy.”
Mayor Sutherland said crime statistics had been examined in more than 66 locations across 35 suburbs to identify priority areas for the expansion of the CCTV network and the upgrade of lighting infrastructure.
“The extension of Council’s CCTV network will deliver permanent monitoring of the Strathpine CBD for the first time, expand coverage of the Redcliffe Seaside Village precinct, as well as Caboolture’s town centre,” Mayor Sutherland said.
“In Redcliffe alone, over the past year, there have been 52 formal requests from police for video footage to support criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“There is no doubt in my mind that, in conjunction with a visible police presence, CCTV is a valid and worthwhile crime fighting tool.
“Although there is scope for further expansion of the CCTV network into the future, we’re not about to put an entire community under surveillance on every street corner.
“But I am keen to strike an appropriate balance between the privacy of individuals and the delivery of an effective crime deterrent.”
Council has now awarded a tender for the supply, installation and maintenance of the new security cameras, which are expected to be operational by the end of October 2010.
