BATHURST councillors are divided over the question of whether they should take another look at installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the city following reports of a sexual assault on Friday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillor Bobby Bourke yesterday said he has long supported CCTV cameras as a deterrent.
“Terrible things like this highlight the need for it,” Cr Bourke said. “It might stop something like this happening again. I think it is just a matter of time before we put cameras in.”
Cr Bourke said he has checked out other cities that use CCTV cameras.
He said Toowoomba, for instance, uses the revenue from paid car parking to partly fund its CCTV cameras. He said this was something Bathurst Regional Council could consider.
“People would be more inclined to accept paid parking if they knew the money was going towards CCTV cameras,” Cr Bourke said.
“I believe council is responsible for ensuring businesses and members of the community are safe.”
Cr Bourke said installing CCTV has to start somewhere, and this is likely to be in the heart of the CBD.
“Hopefully people will get the message,” he said.
“At the moment they know there are no cameras so they think they can get away with things.”
He said a “city watch” – something similar to Neighbourhood Watch, where businesses keep an eye out for each other – would be another good idea.
“Maybe we could get a community group to kick it off,” he said.
Cr Monica Morse said studies show CCTV cameras don’t prevent violence, but it might help police catch the perpetrators.
“It is very sad that people can’t walk in our streets without being attacked. It’s just awful,” Cr Morse said.
“CCTV might work in a car park, but I believe the statistics show that in this case it might not have helped.”
Cr Warren Aubin believes individual businesses should be responsible for providing CCTV.
“Where does it end?” he asked of council being asked to fund the technology. “You can’t just blanket cover the whole city.
“That corner – there’s nothing there.
“I think improving the lighting is a much better idea.”
He added that a lighting audit had been carried out and council would soon get a report about updating the lighting in that area.
“What do you do? It’s a tough one. I’d rather see council making sure the park is well lit.
“We are looking at CCTV at the moment. The Safety Committee will be issuing a report and council will look at it in the next little while.”
