After a long and protracted debate at last Thursday’s Byron Shire Council meeting, majority of councillors agreed to apply for a $200,000 grant for CCTV in Byron Bay’s trouble spots.
The application will include a request for additional lighting.
Under the Safer Streets Program, justice minister Michael Keenan recently invited Byron Shire Council to submit a proposal that would see CCTV in Apex Park near the Beach Hotel ($100,000) and on Jonson St, ending at Kingsley St ($100,000).
But Cr Paul Spooner was unimpressed, saying that without lighting, CCTV would be useless and that the ongoing costs are unknown.
‘If the government are genuine, they would support our own community compact policy, which calls for more lighting as well.’
The town’s chamber of commerce, Byron United (BU), says its board were delighted at the outcome
But Council’s general manager Ken Gainger noted that the CCTV funding offer would have ongoing costs estimated at up to $80,000 for monitoring and maintenance each year.
‘If the application is successful, this cost will need to be included in all future Council budgets while CCTV is in place,’ he said.
Prior to installing the system, Council will be required to develop a CCTV policy, guidelines, code of practice and operating procedures.
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