Graeme Gillbanks and his wife Linda were assaulted as they walked up Keppel Street after a night out last month.

They reported the incident to police but were not able to identify the attackers.

Mr Gillbanks used public question time at Bathurst Regional Council’s meeting to urge councillors to reconsider CCTV.

The issue looked to be put to bed when a report commissioned by council found that CCTV was an ineffective tool in stopping crime.

But the report has been discredited by critics who say it did not pay enough attention to CCTV’s role in helping police identify offenders after a crime is committed, and mayor Monica Morse has publicly vowed to keep CCTV on the agenda.

Mr Gillbanks told councillors he was recovering well from his ordeal but noted that other victims of crime – both in Bathurst and other areas – had not been so lucky.

“I just think we need to keep the ball rolling on CCTV,” he said.

“I know it’s difficult to cover every corner in Bathurst, but this attack was not an isolated event.

“Over the last month my wife and I have spoken to friends in the medical area who said they would not let their kids go out at night in Bathurst because of all the injuries coming into emergency.

“It’s been happening over a long time but it seems to be escalating, so something has to be done.”

Mr Gillbanks also urged councillors to install high-resolution cameras to avoid the grainy images often produced by CCTV.

The Gillbanks assault was just one of several reported to the Western Advocate in recent weeks.

Solicitor Emma Mason said she had to flee after being approached by an aggressive man as she left work in William Street late one night, while Dr Martha Gelin was confronted by a man who spewed obscenities at her before raising his fists in a fighting stance as she walked towards him in William Street one evening. 

Both victims backed calls for council to install CCTV cameras in the CBD.