‘Total waste of money’: Government funded CCTV cameras left broken, turned off in Yarra Ranges shopping strips

Security cameras across the Yarra Ranges have been left in disrepair or have been shut off after federal funding dried up, with crime-riddled shop owners asked to pay for the upkeep.

A CCTV security network rolled out across the Yarra Ranges by the former federal government has been labelled a “total waste of money” with most of the cameras not working after funding dried up.

The former government paid for the installation of CCTV cameras in the main shopping strips of towns across the Yarra Valley from 2013 to 2019 as part of the Safer Communities Program.

Townships in the Yarra Valley received more than $780,000 as part of the national program that gave out more than $184m to towns across the nation for CCTV cameras and other community safety initiatives.

But after the money dried up, many cameras have been left in a state of disrepair or no longer work.

Security cameras in the Montrose shopping strip have been turned off.

Montrose IGA owner Brad Munro said the cameras were a “total waste of money”.

“I was happy they were installing the cameras and I was more than happy to house the security equipment in the back of my store and to supply the power for them,” he said.

“They are so important for police to be able to use, especially because shopping strips are targets for crime.”

Mr Munro’s IGA has been the victim of two armed robberies and two ram raids in the past 12 months.

“We have our own security cameras but the ones paid for by the government were state of the art,” he said.

Mr Munro said when the camera funding stopped the security company returned to his store, took the remote controls and locked the cameras.

“They are now just sitting there,” he said.

“It is such an indiscriminate waste of money.”

The cameras were installed in shopping strips across the Yarra Ranges.

The Herald Sun was told some of the leftover funding from the federal grants was given to a community group, the Yarra Ranges Safety Cameras Network, for maintenance and upkeep of the security cameras.

One source, who did not want to be named, said enough money was given to the group for “several years” of upkeep.

Shopkeepers said they were told the group had mostly run out of money and they were asked to front up extra money to help pay for the upkeep on the cameras themselves by a member of the Yarra Ranges Safety Cameras Network.

The Yarra Ranges Safety Cameras Network was contacted and refused to comment.

Police have access to the cameras that remain operational.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said police “continue to have access to operational cameras installed as part of this program”.

“While Victoria Police is not responsible for the repair or replacement of cameras which are no longer working, we acknowledge the concerns of local traders and are working with relevant stakeholders on this issue,” they said.

“CCTV is of value to police in detecting and deterring crime however is only one part of our overall efforts in this area which include proactive patrols and a highly visible police presence.”

The camera system in Mt Evelyn is the only Yarra Ranges town with fully functional cameras.

The majority of the cameras in Lilydale have been disconnected due to works for the new railway station.

Cameras in Seville East, Wandin North, Montrose, Healesville and Yarra Glen are not in working order.

Aaron Violi wants to reinstate the program that funded the cameras. Picture: Supplied.

The latest stage of the federal Safer Communities Fund program has been offering funds for youth crime prevention services rather than offering CCTV funding for shopping strips.

Casey federal Liberal MP Aaron Violi has created a petition asking the federal government to reinstate funding for the cameras and other local crime prevention activities.

“I am advocating for that fund to be reinstated to ensure our community has adequate crime prevention,” he said.

“I have been engaging with local police about our local camera network and will continue to engage with council around ongoing funding options for existing cameras, as well as further opportunities to upgrade existing technology,” he said.

Evelyn state Liberal MP Bridget Vallence said CCTV in Yarra Ranges townships was a “worthwhile initiative ” after several reports of aggravated burglaries, and a firebombing in the council area in the past month.