A VICTORIA Point couple are so annoyed at council’s lack of action, they are installing security cameras overlooking a public reserve to protect the property from vandals.
Maria and Martin Sealy campaigned to prevent the 80-metre wide Teak Lane public reserve from being converted into parking by the adjacent shopping centre.
In November the Planning and Environment Court’s Judge Michael Rackemann ruled in favour of council, saying the car park proposal conflicted with the planning scheme, would result in the loss of a park and was counter to reasonable expectations about development.
Judge Rackemann said the land – separating shops from houses on Sycamore Parade – lacked a good environmental design that reduced opportunities for crime.
Mrs Sealy said she had hoped a security camera policy passed by Redland City Council last month would apply to Teak Lane.
READ MORE: Council wins court battle over Teak Lane
A council officer told her the policy was not an approval for CCTV cameras to be installed at Teak Lane but reinforced council’s position that anti-social behaviour and criminal activity should be referred to police.
Mrs Sealy said she had registered the land with Keep Queensland Beautiful’s Adopt-a-Spot and would fund two cameras, to be installed this week, to film the easement and reserve.
“We’re being proactive and working hard to look after the reserve,” she said.
A council spokesperson said the security camera policy supported community groups to install, manage and maintain cameras on public land with council approval.
“Council’s new security camera policy is focused on working with other agencies such as the police to determine and deliver security cameras in areas that crime statistics show they are needed,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said statistics did not support installing cameras in Teak Lane reserve.
Asked what council had done since the judgement, the spokesperson said issues had been addressed through security measures like undergrowth vegetation removal and further works were being investigated.
“Council is costing options for evaluation and timeframes are still being determined.”
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