COUNCIL BUDGET Greater cover in security upgrade

CAIRNS Regional Council is beefing up its security and CCTV presence across the region with $4.5 million set aside in its 2017-18 Budget.

The $294 million financial plan delivered a 1.75 per cent rate rise for the overwhelming majority of ratepayers – an increase on the 1.5 per cent rises of the preceding three years.

Mayor Bob Manning did not expect a community backlash, noting he could not name another council in Queensland boasting an average rate increase of 1.56 per cent or less over the past four years.

He revealed the council also expected to post a $7.3 million surplus for 2016-17.

“If it was quite visible around this city that we’re not getting value for money, then I would expect a backlash for any increase,” he said.

The budget outlined a $169 million capital works program with a $34.5 million spend on roads and transport, $37.9 million on water, sewerage and waste infrastructure and $22.8 million on sporting and recreation infrastructure.

The plan relied heavily on last year’s Our Cairns survey which identified safety as one of the community’s biggest priorities, particularly in the southern suburbs.

Cr Manning said $2.5 million earmarked for CCTV upgrades and expansion would allow video monitoring to extend outside the city centre.

Another $2 million funding pool has been set aside to boost general security services in the city.

“We’re now taking CCTV into, particularly, some of the park areas. We are moving out into the suburbs a little bit more than what we have done in the past,” Cr Manning said.

That work has already started with cameras recently installed at Gordonvale’s Kenrick St skate park, John Egan Park at Cairns North and Gamburra Park at Redlynch.

A new mobile camera unit will also join the council's fleet, to be shuffled between problem areas as necessary.

IF IT WAS QUITE VISIBLE AROUND THIS CITY THAT WE’RE NOT GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY, THEN I WOULD EXPECT A BACKLASH FOR ANY INCREASE