SMILE, you're on camera.
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The first stage of a council-owned closed-circuit television (CCTV) network has been rolled out in the central business district.
Mayor Graeme Hanger said nine cameras were installed to monitor parts of William and Keppel streets.
"We're happy to announce that these cameras are now operational and will be helping with antisocial behaviour and checking up on antisocial behaviour, and we're happy to be working with the NSW Police," Cr Hanger said.
Stage one of the CCTV network cost $270,000 and was fully-funded by council, after its initial attempts to secure funding failed.
Later stages of the project will be paid for with the help of a $400,000 grant from the Federal Government.
The cameras will feed images into Bathurst Police Station and, although the footage won't be monitored 24-seven, they can be used in fighting crime.
The placement of cameras was determined with the help of police.
Commander of the Chifley Police District, Superintendent Paul McDonald, said historical data played a role in the decisions.
"A couple of our officers went out there and had a look around with the council, did a walk around a few of the key traffic areas, places of gathering ... licensed premises where historically we have a lot of antisocial behaviour, just those areas that would benefit from this initial roll-out," he said.
Police regularly call upon businesses to provide CCTV footage to help with incidents that have occurred.
Supt McDonald said the new cameras will give police another tool to rely upon.
The push for a comprehensive CCTV network was led by councillor Ian North, who later received the support of another strong voice, that of councillor Alex Christian, when he was elected to council in late 2017.
"I've needed a backup for a long time," he said.
"All of a sudden, Alex helped make it a commitment of the last local government election - I've been putting it in all of my elections - and it was just enough of a push."
Cr North said he had been calling for a CCTV network for at least eight years and he was thrilled to see it finally come to fruition.
"To me, this is long overdue, but I'm glad we've got it here and we've got the money to expand it as the years go on, to a point where I've asked the general manager to have another $250,000 in the budget next year," he said.
Cr Christian said that many other regional communities, smaller than Bathurst, already had a CCTV network and this investment by council had finally brought Bathurst into the 21st Century.
"This is a win for community safety," he said.