Outdoor security CCTV camera. Photo: File.
The ACT Government is spending $100,000 on four CCTV cameras at Henry Rolland Park as part of a larger public safety plan.
The cameras will provide a 360-degree view of the park in high definition to help strengthen public safety and asset protection after $100,000 worth of damages occurred when vandals stole brass material from the West Basin Park.
The package is part of an almost $1 million spend over four years from the 2018-19 budget to create safer public spaces.
$975,000 is being spent on CCTV upgrades across the ACT. Of this, $475,000 will go to the Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACS) to upgrade the Public Safety CCTV Network, a JACS spokesperson told Region Media.
“The approximate $100,000 cost of the cameras in Henry Rolland Park was co-funded by JACS and the City Renewal Authority,” the spokesperson said.
“The City Renewal Authority funded the costs of fibre installation and posts from their project budget, (which is) not part of the $975,000. JACS funded the cost of the camera purchase, installation, and commissioning of the cameras from the $475,000.”
The cameras are connected to the ACT’s Public Safety CCTV Network that helps support police investigate crime and prosecute offenders, the Minister for Police Mick Gentleman said.
“These cameras embed into our CCTV Network across the ACT, and allow us to record and look at incidents that could occur in Rowland Park,” the Minister said.
“We want to ensure that we can have safe public areas around the ACT.”
ACT Minister for Police Mick Gentleman. Photo: Region Media.
The government has allocated $500,000 to Transport Canberra and City Services to upgrade the CCTV systems at bus stops, which will also be connected to the network.
In 2018-19, CCTV was used across the ACT 277 times by police to investigate crime and support court proceedings. So far, officers have been dispatched on 79 occasions to incidents that were being captured live by CCTV cameras in various locations.
The government says the privacy of Canberrans has been carefully considered, and the new cameras and overall CCTV network are being operated according to the Territory’s human rights, privacy and records laws.
A copy of the CCTV Plan is available from the JACS website www.justice.act.gov.au or by calling Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
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