Moorabool Shire councillor asks for CCTV at community sites after fire and rise in ‘anti-social’ behaviour

Moorabool Council will consider installing CCTV across the shire to stamp out rising “problematic behaviour”. Read why.

Moorabool Shire Council is investigating the costs associated with installing CCTV cameras around all community assets.

Moorabool Shire Council will consider installing CCTV at community sites amid an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Following a fire that endangered the Navigators Community Centre earlier this month, council has been called to urgently consider the feasibility of installing CCTV to protect community assets.

Moorabool Shire councillor Tom Sullivan raised a matter of urgent business at this month’s council meeting following a reported campfire on April 2 that burned dangerously close to the timber rotunda, which could have devastated the community hall.

Moorabool Council will prepare a report regarding the potential installation of CCTV at community owned assets such as the Navigators Community Centre. Picture: Supplied

Mr Sullivan said assets such as the hall were “hard fought for” and belonged to the community, so it was important to consider methods to help prosecute and, more importantly, prevent “anti-social behaviour” such as lighting fires.

“I’ve had conversations with people concerned about a rise in problematic behaviour across the shire and I think we need to really explore what we can do to better protect our assets,” Mr Sullivan said.

“These may be council sites in name, but these places belong to the community and groups work damn hard to secure and maintain them.”

Following a blaze near Navigators Community Centre, Mr Tom Sullivan raised the urgent matter at a recent council meeting. Picture: Supplied

“It’s common sense, we don’t need cameras everywhere but where assets are vulnerable or there’s patterns in irresponsible behaviour, we need to stamp it out.”

It is unknown how much such a project and policy would cost, but it is understood that will be revealed in an upcoming report to councillors.

Moorabool Shire chief executive Derek Madden confirmed a report would be prepared, but not in time for next month’s general council meeting.

“Council will prepare a report to understand the cost and considerations of installing security cameras on council-owned buildings and assets,” Mr Madden said.

“This piece of work will coincide with the development of a new draft CCTV Policy which Council has prepared for community consultation, once endorsed by Councillors,” he said.

Moorabool Shire will continue to work with community groups to identify and implement strategies for asset protection.

[e-mail]