With almost 1,900 CCTV cameras, City of Moreton Bay is already leading the way with one of the largest local government CCTV networks in Australia, giving its community 1,890 reasons to feel safe. Beyond this, they are further exploring how the system can enhance community safety.
CCTV is no longer just for surveillance; it now plays a broader role in meeting community needs. The opportunity for CCTV is growing, using intelligent analytics to support community safety and the delivery of services.
The extensive camera system in City of Moreton Bay gives the Council the ability to respond to community safety with a multi-faceted approach, with CCTV being just one part of a range of physical measures and crime prevention concepts that are adopted to improve community safety outcomes.
As well as supporting the direct interception of offenders by police, the CCTV network has also improved situational awareness in the lead up to disaster events such as flooding. Portable, solar powered CCTV units are deployed throughout the City in response to community, police and internal requests. They also supported recent disaster operations, from flood monitoring to storm surges, ensuring the community and law enforcement can be informed and prepared.
With the help of the Federal and State Government, the City has been able to grow their camera system. The expansion of the network contributed to a 4 per cent decrease in stolen vehicles across City of Moreton Bay in 2023. It has made a significant impact on crime and community safety by improving the likelihood of convictions for criminal acts through enhanced licence plate detection in the region. In fact, in the 2024 calendar year, 10,256 alerts for stolen or vehicles of interest were forwarded to Queensland Police Service.
While the capabilities of a strengthened CCTV network seem endless, it is important that whatever capability is deployed directly addresses community needs in an affordable and sustainable manner.
As technology continues to evolve, so does the potential of CCTV networks. With clear benefits in crime prevention and disaster response, ongoing investment in this space is crucial for the safety of communities.
In the lead up to the federal election in 2025, City of Moreton Bay is calling for funding to enhance crime prevention and public safety, including CCTV cameras, better lighting in car parks, and anti-hooning measures on roads and sportsgrounds.
