By Kirra Livingstone
THE Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce is pushing to bring 30 CCTV across hinterland business districts back online.
As revealed by GC&M News last week, 30 security cameras installed 10 years ago across Beerwah, Landsborough and Glass House Mountains have not been operational due to the ongoing cost.
But following a spate of crimes and ongoing vandalism, the chamber wants to see the cameras working to help curb crime that has caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and disruption.
Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce vice president, Geoff Martin, said: “At this stage we are in a discovery process.” “As the system has sat idle for so long, we are not sure what is required to make them functional again,” he said. “The Chamber is engaging a local AV contractor to investigate the validity of the equipment and the costs attached in making the system viable.”
Geoff said it was a crucial element to thwarting criminals. “Given the high level of local crime currently, a functioning CCTV system is not only a useful tool in identifying culprits, but also a deterrent to crime,” he said. “As we are not sure of the costs attached as yet, Chamber will look for potential grants to fund the ongoing operation of the cameras.”
The key concern is the recorders are accessible and can be monitored easily; both to download footage and to monitor any maintenance issues that may be detected,” Geoff said. Simpson Street in Beerwah is one of the various locations where there are outdated CCTV cameras, home to a range of diverse businesses.
Pine Property Partners, Bailey Sims, backed the move. “I think it’s going to be a good interim measure as crime rises in the area, it’s an important deterrent for criminals,” the small business owner said.
“When people start releasing images of the burglars, I think it could hinder the amount of crime that happens.
