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.
Cameras in Byron Bay. Now we can salivate with love of self as we watch ourselves in the reflection of shop windows. Will help us believe we alone are responsible for the moon light and we will be one with the universe. Multi colored rainbows will bend into right angles..and and we’ll connect cameras with YouTube and the whole world will build statues to our glory and worship us. Oh yes yes yes. Put cameras everywhere. I need it.
The image used in the picture is very misleading. The installation would be of the small blue half dome cameras that you see outside of businesses, council chambers, sports field etc. And would extend the reach of what is already in place.
Fantastic if grant includes lighting, as this was failed to be secured in the last round of funding applications.
It is unfortunate that it appears little consideration has been afforded the substantial independent evidence establishing CCTV has no effective alcohol crime prevention value.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/the-real-cost-of-cctv-might-stop-you-smiling-20121009-27b4m.html
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/rip/1-10/08/04.html
Though early days, as the recent successful modest reductions in last drinks time has established in the Sydney CBD and KX , the most critical factor impacting on alcohol related public violence and related harms is the dangerous oversupply and availability of alcohol.
Herein lies a key part of the answer to Byron’s avoidable dubious distinction of being one of the most alcohol fuelled violent locations in NSW – work together to trial a similar 2hr reduction in last drinks – at no additional cost to taxpayers.
$200,000 could be much better spent in the Shire addressing existing community, health, education and cultural priorities – not to divert attention away from the key industry responsibilities of the responsible, sale, service, supply and promotion of alcohol which most reputable traders uphold.
Surveillance cameras on our streets is not a good way to go. It is widely known that these cameras do not reduce crime. They do increase the rate of prosecution and conviction , but this is irrelevant when you are getting the shit kicked out of you on the street because there are no police around anymore… this is not a speculation- it is what happens, and there is a lot of data out there because Britain for one has been using this type of ‘ policing ‘ for a long time.- the cost of surveillance results in reduction of policing at the street level, street level violence continues, but the cops and politicians get to talk about the success of the cameras because more people are getting convicted.
The more CCTV cameras and better lighting is all the better for community safety, or at the very least being able to track offenders post facto.
Correct Adrian, not sure what the space captain was talking about. I do agree that the Echo always uses a camera that looks like its from the 1960`s as used in a Prison….. to try and emphasise the ” BIG BROTHER” angle..
Lets face it folks, If you don’t like cameras you might as well stay home, or at least don’t go to any of the following places, Petrol stations, banks council chambers, Police stations, hospitals, Pharmacy, many shops and all super markets, Licensed venues such as restaurants pubs or clubs. Bus terminal, train stations, air ports. Or any government building or corporate building, Motor ways and arterial roads, patrolled surf beaches… the list is endless –
For God’s sake….CCTV is for the paranoid in our society. I’m sorry to offend those proponents but really. If you can’t muster a witness then a crime hasn’t been committed. It is really sick to expect us rate-payers to augment the incomes of people you who make a living out of selling drink to people………Many in Byron do a great job of hospitality but others are just in it for money. Don’t expect us who pay the bills to back you up!
PS….It’s just a ridiculous amount of money…….we could knock up at least two new stylish dunnies for that dough!