The council received a $472,000 grant last year but community safety and crime prevention committee chairman and councillor Jason Hamling said the aim was ensuring it was used to its full potential, but kept safe at the same time.

A request for an image of the camera was declined due to fears of vandalism or theft. 

“The unit is small and very flexible,” Cr Hamling said in a statement.

“Sometimes we’ll mount it high on telegraph poles but it can also be attached to a trailer and moved across the city, should it be needed.”

The camera is solar powered, meaning it does not need access to electricity, and it has clear night vision.

“We’re working really closely with the police on this one and its location will be determined by feedback from our local officers,” Cr Hamling said.

“Sometimes the camera won’t be obvious so that the police can capture the evidence they need to help them solve crimes, however, at other times it will be clearly visible and used as a deterrent to prevent crime from occurring.”

Cr Hamling said it would be counter-productive to flag every location publicly ahead of time, but there would be some signage in the area letting people know their images might be recorded.

At the council’s recent meeting, councillor Glenn Taylor asked for CCTV cameras to be stationed in Robertson Park next financial year in response to antisocial behaviour.

“They’re very effective as far as apprehending people who may want to perpetrate crime,” he said. 

The council is allowed to monitor public land, but not private land unless it is not reasonably practical to avoid the land.

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