An application was submitted on December 20, 2017 by council for $249,000 through the NSW Community Safety Fund 2018.

If successful, council would use the money to install the latest high definition cameras in public spaces around the city. 

Councillor Alex Christian, who is also a police officer, largely built his campaign for the September Local Government Election around Bathurst’s need for CCTV.

He said last week that he was becoming impatient with the process, as residents have “been waiting too long” to have this kind of security. 

His hope is that, when a network is implemented, the CCTV cameras could tie in with other projects council is embarking on as part of its goal of becoming a dedicated Smart City.

“In conjunction with the smart lights and the wi-fi that we just got grants for, I’d like to see cameras in Machattie Park and at major intersections,” Cr Christian said.

In early February, Cr Christian told the Western Advocate that he personally wanted to see between 15 to 20 cameras installed around the city that could be monitored.

He said at the time that it was a project that could be rolled out before the end of the 2018-19 financial year if council budgeted for it. 

Cr Christian felt most councillors would support having a wide CCTV network in Bathurst, and his position on that hasn’t changed. 

“I believe it is not going to be an issue in the chamber in the slightest,” he said. 

Bathurst already has a number of cameras in the central business district, many of these coming as a result of council’s CCTV Funding Program. 

Since its inception, there have been 48 businesses that have been successful in obtaining funding for their projects. 

Businesses within the local government area are able to apply for funding up to a maximum of $500 on a dollar-for-dollar basis. 

The latest round of funding for this program closed on February 16, with council to now determine which businesses will receive funding.

Applications from businesses need to meet certain criteria, including a guarantee that the surveillance equipment will be registered with Bathurst police.