Camera plan to ramp up security
SECURITY cameras are set to be installed at several of Cairns’ boat ramps to prevent thieves from stealing from fishermen’s vehicles.
Cairns Regional Council is working with Far North recreational fishing lobby group CAREFISH and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to improve security at key boating facilities across the city.
The council has allocated about $150,000 in its budget for the upgrades to infrastructure and amenities at boat ramps and is looking at directing some of this money into CCTV with financial support from the State Government.
It comes as several vehicles were broken into at the Bluewater Trinity Park boat ramp carpark just after Christmas.
Cairns deputy mayor Terry James, who is also chairman of the council’s planning and environment committee, said crime at boat ramps had been an issue for many years, particularly with thieves targeting vehicles parked overnight.
“There hasn’t been any particular sites identified yet — we still need to go through that process and talk with the boating and fishing club people,” he said.
“They will have the options that we best look at.”
He envisioned the cameras being installed within the next six months.
CAREFISH co-ordinator Paul Aubin said recreational fishers were getting sick of having their vehicles broken into at local boat ramps.
“I think there’s also a lot of stuff that’s not reported to police because people think it’s almost too much of a pain to do that,” he said. “It’s sort of ongoing. If you leave your car and trailer in an isolated spot, and know you’re going to leave it for eight or 10 hours or whatever, it’s a high risk.
“But if there’s a camera there, it would be good to catch whoever’s doing it.”
He said there may be other uses of the cameras for boaties.
“You might be able to call up the camera online, and have a look at the ramp to see whether it’s congested or whatever, on your phone,” he said.
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost