New CCTV cameras installed along Childers main street

A grassroots initiative has brought the first council CCTV cameras to the Childers main street.

The first Council CCTV cameras have been installed in the Childers main street through a grassroots collaboration between community groups, QPS and Council.

The streets of Childers are safer following the recent installation of the first council CCTV cameras along the town’s main street.

Announced by Childers Chamber of Commerce president Margaret Smith at the CCC breakfast on April 5, Bundaberg Regional Council had installed five cameras along Churchill Street between the IGA supermarket and the Backpackers Memorial.

The cameras were acquired through a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant of about $8000 submitted by a consortium of local business and community groups including the Isis Central Sugar Mill, Isis Canegrowers Association and the Childers Chamber of Commerce.

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The groups saw a need for having CCTV cameras overseeing the main street in maintaining general public safety.

The Childers Chamber of Commerce executive including president Margaret Smith (right) and secretary Wayne Heidrich (left) were involved in the CCTV grant request.

“There’s never been any cameras and of course, anywhere where people gather there’s trouble,” CCC president Margaret Smith said.

“We want a liveable safe town - you know things are being done, but now we can maybe prosecute people because you can see it.”

The cameras will assist the Isis Central Sugar Mill in identifying vehicles who have caused traffic issues at the nearby sugar cane rail crossings, and also put a halt to vandalism of the Mill’s property.

“There been an increase in vandalism around the town, on occasions, and we’re keen to try and identify who the people were,” Isis Central Sugar Mill Chief Field Officer Paul Nicol said.

“It also helps us to target our campaigns about safety around rail corridors.”

Isis Central Sugar Mill Chief Field Officer Paul Nicol called for more local businesses to install CCTV cameras.

Local police have welcomed the cameras as both improving the efficiency of police investigations and as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.

“CCTV cameras enhance police efficiency, improve the accuracy of their investigations while also encouraging better behaviours in and around the areas subject of CCTV coverage,” Sergeant Ben Holdcroft of Childers Police Station said.

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“The CCTV cameras while enable police to hold offenders to account for any offences committed in and around the Childers CBD area.”

There are plans to install three further CCTV cameras in front of the Childers Library precinct, and the group is interested in pursuing further funding to install more cameras in key areas including the Childers Skatepark.

Sergeant Ben Holdcroft of Childers Police Station welcomed the CCTV cameras as improving the efficiency of police investigations and as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.

“We’re really trying to encourage local businesses to jump on board and install cameras themselves,” Mr Nicol said.

“If we all work together, we can make this better for the whole of the community and hopefully improve safety and confidence around the town.”

The new cameras have not been added to the CCTV Public Register maintained by Bundaberg Regional Council.

The Council has been contacted to confirm that the cameras will be added to the register.

Originally published as New CCTV cameras installed along Childers main street