SECURITY in Orange’s parks will come under scrutiny as part of an audit by police and Orange City Council.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The motion, put forward by councillor Reg Kidd, asked to consider installing security lighting around Elephant Park’s toilet block, children’s playground area and walking path from National Avenue to Woodward Road, but it was expanded to include all parks.
It followed an alleged sexual assault on a child in the Elephant Park toilets in November and reports a man exposed himself to two children earlier this month.
Cr Kidd was absent from the meeting, but councillor Ron Gander said he had spoken to residents who felt unsafe walking from Orange Aquatic Centre to the park.
“The trees have grown heavily and people have felt pretty much at threat,” he said.
“It was beautiful to plant the trees but now there are some very dark areas and should you have a drunk or somebody wanting to take your wallet, I’d hate to see my daughter walking through some of these places on [her] own – even as a bloke, it makes you look at shadows.”
Deputy mayor Jason Hamling, who also chairs the council’s crime prevention committee, applauded the motion and said a range of measures would be considered.
“Either CCTV or better lighting or even chopping down vegetation so it’s more open,” he said.
“We would have to see which parks are used the most, and you’ve got to remember Elephant Park is a thoroughfare.”
Canobolas Local Area Command crime manager Bruce Grassick said he could comment once environmental scans were conducted.
The item was scheduled to be discussed openly, but Cr Gander moved for it to be discussed confidentially without a reason under the Local Government Act.
With the change occurring at short notice, mayor John Davis said he was satisfied it was appropriate and council spokesman Nick Redmond confirmed on Wednesday the decision had allowed information to be raised, which could lead to a criminal investigation.
Asked why he did not raise the concerns without disclosing personal information, Cr Gander said he was unsure how to proceed.
“Purely and simply because we had the press and we had the gallery in there and I was on unknown ground and I wanted to discuss it with the council first.”