MAYOR TURNS FOCUS ON HOONS, DUMPING
MAYOR Tom Tate is on the warpath to catch young hoons and illegal dumpers, promising to double hidden cameras across the city if reelected.
Cr Tate has committed to increasing the number of covert cameras at the city’s disposal from the existing 40 to 80.
Hidden cameras, which can be camouflaged or shaped to look like the natural surroundings, with low light or sensor activation can range in price from $250-$3000.
Currently there are 700 cameras in the city’s security system – 200 of which are mobile and 40 are covert.
“My target is the grubs who throw rubbish into our natural environment, and the hoons who think that doing burnouts and terrorising neighbourhoods is a cheap thrill,” Cr Tate said
The estimated cost of the plan would be $250,000 in total, with $40,000 alone to purchase the new camera stock.
“We will work together with police on the locations and where they see fit,” he said. “We will strategically place these cameras where needed, and ensure the police have all the evidence needed to prosecute hoons as well as council gathering evidence to fine grubs illegally dumping rubbish.”
Cr Tate said illegal dumping cost the council an estimated $100,000 a year.
“Some devices are only a few thousand dollars but in recent financial years, we have prosecuted offenders in excess of $40,000 per annum in fines so money well spent.”
Since 2012 the council has provided police with more than 20,000 pieces of footage from the cameras.
“We have helped in the order of thousands of prosecutions because of the camera network,” he said.