Traffic cams generating big bucks: Every Cairns location revealed
Growing along with the cost of living, Cairns fixed speed cam revenue has surged 20 per cent in the past 12 months to more than $2.5m but a major change could be on the way for greatly maligned mobile speed detection units.
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Cairns fixed speed camera revenue has surged 20 per cent in the past 12 months to an eye-watering seven figure sum.
But a major change could be coming to greatly maligned mobile speed detection units if there’s a change of government at the next election.
Cairns has a total of seven speed and red light cameras.
While some are combined to capture speedsters and red light runners, others just focus on traffic light offences.
Five combined cameras are located at Mount Sheridan, Earlville, Parramatta Park, Mooroobool and Cairns city has two.
Two red light cameras are located at the intersection of Sheridan and James streets, Cairns North and the corner of Pease and Hoare streets in Manunda.
Exclusive data provided by the Queensland Revenue Office has revealed the total number of fines issued by Far North fixed speed cameras between March 1 2023 and February 28 2024 was 3574, in a significant increase on the 3134 the previous year.
Camera infringement notices detected by red light and combined red light and speed camera units totalled 1775 in 2022 but fell to 1354 in 2023.
Despite the drop in red light fines, total Far North police district revenue grew 19.6 per cent from a total of $2,095,366 in 2022 to $2,506,869 in 2023.
This total does not include mobile speed cameras usually mounted in the back of police-operated vehicles and deployed to strategic roadside locations throughout the Far North.
At the LNP’s State Convention in Brisbane this weekend a motion will be put forward
to bring Queensland into line with New South Wales and install warning signs before and after mobile speed camera traps to remind motorists to check their speed and to adhere to the speed limit.
Changes will likely be made if the LNP wins government at the next election.
Though localised data on mobile speed camera revenue is unavailable, statewide the Queensland Government pocketed about $465.8m in revenue during the 2022-23 financial year through the Camera Detected Offence Program, which equated to an increase of nearly 70 per cent on the $274.5m collected in 2021-22.
Cairns resident Rosalyn Maujean said she was aware of the sites typically used by police speed detection vehicles and questioned whether covert units were genuinely about improving road safety.
“I’m aware because I’m in a driving job and I don’t want a speeding ticket to go to my boss,” she said.
“I think it is a bit of a revenue raiser, absolutely, and especially now it’s hard to tell because the cars are identifiable as well.”
At least one mobile phone and seatbelt detection device has been deployed to the Far North, however Transport and Main Roads has never formally revealed how many of the distinct yellow trailer units are in operation.
“These cameras enforce offences at high-risk locations where people have been hurt or killed in crashes involving distraction or failure to wear a seatbelt,” a TMR spokesman said.
“The portable cameras are moved regularly, meaning drivers and passengers can expect to be caught anywhere and at any time for these illegal behaviours.”
In a positive development for motorists hoping not to contribute to a half billion dollar traffic infringement pot, TMR stated there is no plan to install fixed red light/speed cameras along the new Bruce Highway section linking Edmonton and Gordonvale.
“Other roads in Queensland which have a higher number of crashes occurring will be considered for camera enforcement before the E2G route,” a spokesman said.
The little cameras on top of poles lining the new road have been revealed by TMR as a traffic monitoring CCTV system.
The cameras provide real-time imagery to the department’s traffic management centre to assist with the safe and efficient operation of the Bruce Highway.
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Originally published as Traffic cams generating big bucks: Every Cairns location revealed
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