Council announces additional security cameras

Goondiwindi Regional Council has announced a new project to install additional security cameras in Goondiwindi and extend the closed-circuit television (CCTV) network to Inglewood and Texas.

The 36 new CCTV cameras will be installed in key locations identified in partnership with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

Council has secured $130,000 from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program Grant towards the project.

Councillor Lachlan Brennan holds Council’s portfolio for lifestyle, education and technology. He said the new security cameras would cover prioritised areas to deter antisocial behaviour and support police with potential future incidents.

“Security cameras are a really useful tool to protect our community facilities,” Cr Brennan said. “While they may not prevent every incidence of criminal damage, they certainly help to ensure those offenders are identified and brought before the justice system.

“Our sporting grounds are the pride and joy of our region, as are all of our community facilities. Council is working together with our community and the police to ensure the best outcome for protecting our community facilities.”

Cr Brennan said Council’s existing CCTV network has already proved successful in assisting to identify offenders.

“Just recently, Council’s CCTV network helped to identify the individual who damaged the Talwood crossing gate at the Queensland border. It’s also assisted police with investigations into recent illegal dumping and criminal damage to playground equipment.”

Once the project is completed, more than 20 community facilities across the region will be protected by security cameras. Council has a strict CCTV policy in place that addresses the privacy of the collected footage: access is limited to the police and other lawful agencies, and all requests are recorded. Recordings are deleted after a specified amount of time.

Last year Council conducted an audit of the security camera coverage from private businesses and liaised with the QPS to map existing capabilities and determine where else cameras would deliver the most benefit.

The project will be put to tender this month and is expected to be completed by April 2021.

For more information about Council’s CCTV Policy (Public Spaces), visit: www.grc.qld.gov.au/council/council-policies/list-policies