WELLINGTON Point residents say they have seen drug deals, hooning, fires lit on walkways, signs broken and rubbish left on the jetty.
Speaking ahead of discussion on council’s security camera policy, the residents asked councillors to install CCTV in public areas like Wellington Point Reserve to address the issues.
After a lengthy discussion, council’s policy was passed with mayor Karen Williams saying it was the state government’s responsibility through the police to deal with issues like hooning and speeding.
Cr Murray Elliott said many of the issues raised about Wellington Point – aside for parking infringements – were for police to address.
However, Cr Boglary said police needed council’s support to address antisocial behaviour.
She said hooning on Main Road, Wellington Point could be reduced by cameras at the reserve which would make the offender’s destination less attractive.
Cr Williams said council would work with police and state government to implement the policy.
“... Our adopted security camera policy focuses on the relationships between council and other agencies and defines the role that will be played by each agency where security cameras are installed,” Cr Williams said.
“While community safety remains the responsibility of the Queensland Police Service, there is no doubt council and state agencies play an important role as landowners of public areas such as car parks and transit areas.”
Cr Williams said she had met with Translink and local police to see how they could work together to improve public safety at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay.
“These discussions have been positive and I am confident this policy combined with the discussions I have already had will deliver real results for the community,” she said.
“Facebook banter does not resolve community issues, sitting down to get the facts and work through the issues in a collaborative and co-operative fashion delivers far better results for the community.”
Cr Wendy Boglary’s push for the policy to refer to cameras being installed to protect property against crime like antisocial behaviour, as well as vandalism, theft and graffiti, failed.
Cr Boglary said cameras could be used as a tool to curtail antisocial behaviour and the CCTV policy of other councils referred to antisocial behaviour.
“It has to be written into the policy,” she said.
A council report said research suggested video surveillance cameras had been found especially effective in car parks to address property crime.
The report said the Redlands had the lowest rate of reported offences per 100,000 compared to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay.
Cr Williams said Redlands was a safe city with much lower crimes against property and person than other communities in the south-east.
“Through my conversations with local police it is clear that security cameras alone do not improve community safety,” Cr Williams said.
“They are just one element in a larger community safety plan that must involve all levels of government and the broader community working together.”
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