THE Fraser Coast could be getting more eyes in the sky.
Councillors agreed at their March meeting to consider installing internal and external CCTV cameras at Maryborough City Hall, extending the coverage of cameras at the Bideford Street retail precinct in Torquay and installing cameras at the skate park in Torquay Road, Pialba.
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Division 10 Councillor Zane O’Keefe said the region’s CCTV network had proven useful to police when tracking down offenders.
“Most recently, footage was used to identify people who destroyed video screens and vandalised the Duncan Chapman statue in Queens Park in Maryborough,” Cr O’Keefe said.
“There is also a lot of evidence that the presence of the cameras leads to a decrease in antisocial behaviours. The feedback we have received is that it also makes the community feel safer,” he continued.
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The three new projects, which will be considered as part of the 2021/22 budget deliberations, would cost $118,000 and were among 28 requests for CCTV cameras received by Council.
“Of the remaining requests, 16 were estimated to cost $397,000 and will be considered in future budget deliberations,” Cr O’Keefe said.
Council’s CCTV network is valued at almost $2-million and includes 504 cameras at locations throughout the Fraser Coast.
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