Reports of a sexual assault in the centre of Bathurst last week have again sparked calls from the community to have CCTV cameras installed in the central business district.

A 20-year-old woman was attacked about 11.30pm last Friday as she walked to her car, parked near the intersection of William and Keppel streets.

The attacker, described as a 40-year-old man of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, dragged the woman a short distance before sexually assaulting her.

But while most supporters of CCTV are looking to council to fund and co-ordinate the roll out, Councillor Jess Jennings used Wednesday night’s policy committee meeting to reveal Mr Cobb’s pre-election promise last year.

Cr Jennings – who ran against Mr Cobb as the Labor Party’s candidate for Calare – said the commitment was made at a candidates’ forum at the Bathurst City Community Club, with about 100 people in attendance.

“Last September I was at a forum when our federal member John Cobb reckoned he could and would deliver CCTV in Bathurst during his term,” Cr Jennings said. “Have we heard anything more from Mr Cobb about that?”

General manager David Sherley said council generally dealt with the state attorney general’s department in relation to questions about CCTV and he was not aware of any correspondence from Mr Cobb’s office.

However, he said council could write a letter to Mr Cobb seeking more information.

Staff at Mr Cobb’s Orange office said the MP was unavailable to speak to the Western Advocate yesterday and sent through a written response instead.

We specifically asked if Mr Cobb recalled making the CCTV commitment and, if so, what he had done since to follow up on the pledge.

He did not answer that question but his written response read: “Since forming government, the Coalition initiated the Safer Streets Program which included funding for CCTV and no town or city in Calare applied for funding in the first round. Round two will open January.

“Should Bathurst or any other council wish to apply for funding, obviously I would assist.

“However, as printed on the front page of your paper just two days ago, council members are still undecided on the best course of action for the city and have not approached me regarding this matter.

“In 2007, I helped Orange City Council with their bid to get CCTV footage. They were successful in receiving $150,000 in federal funding under the National Community Crime Prevention Prog-ram. Then in 2012 they also received federal funding of $130,000 for CCTV system maintenance.”

Meanwhile, deputy mayor Ian North has urged his fellow councillors to reconsider installing CCTV in the CBD.

A report commissioned by council last year found that CCTV was not an effective tool in fighting crime but Cr North, a long-time supporter of CCTV, said council should revisit the topic following last week’s attack.

“It’s fine to say businesses already have CCTV cameras, businesses look after their business, but the streets are our business,” he said.

“I would hate to see anyone else go through this sort of awful attack. If we can do anything to make our streets safer then we should damn well do it.”