A west Victorian council has refused to bow to community pressure to install CCTV in high-crime locations, citing human rights privacy concerns, despite already using cameras outside council workplaces.
A group of Stawell residents is rallying for Northern Grampians Shire Council (NGSC) to install security cameras at police-identified crime hotspots, including a council-run skate park, after years of council resistance.
NGSC Mayor Karen Hyslop and director of infrastructure Jeevan Pinto confirmed requests for security cameras in Stawell dated back to 2022, when a skate park designer said CCTV should be part of its construction.
Karen Hyslop says CCTV at council-run skate parks may not be viable. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
Two years ago, NGSC rejected requests for CCTV at another council-run skate park in St Arnaud.
Mr Pinto said those cameras were not “worth it” due to the cost of installation, maintenance and operation, and human rights privacy concerns.
Cr Hyslop said those were the same reasons cameras had not been installed at the Stawell skate park.
However, when asked if any residents voiced privacy concerns, Cr Hyslop and Mr Pinto said no.
Police say the Stawell skate park is a crime hotspot. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
Cr Hyslop said the only council assets protected by CCTV were those where council staff worked.
“The [CCTV] policy focuses on legitimate operational purposes such as protecting council staff, facilities and assets,” Cr Hyslop said.
“So we do have them at a few of our buildings in the shire.”
Mr Pinto said it was possible security cameras outside council buildings were already filming sections of public land.
“It needs to be focused outside at the front door so some might be outward facing … you can’t limit how far the camera can see,” he said.
“You can’t black out the areas which extend beyond the property.”
Mum says system is ‘ridiculous’
Stawell mother Jessica Lees said she found it “ridiculous” council CCTV only existed at council’s staffed buildings.
“Council has CCTV monitoring its own workplaces, but not the skate park, despite it being a council asset and a location police have described as a hotspot,”
Ms Lees said.
“If we’re serious about reducing vandalism, improving safety, and protecting community infrastructure, it’s time the skate park received the same consideration as council’s other properties.”
Jessica Lees is taking a stand about safety and the need for a CCTV camera at the Stawell skate park. (Supplied: Jessica Lees)
Ms Lees said she was in the process of making a formal proposal to present to NGSC.
She and two other mothers were using an online survey to collect data in support of the cameras being installed in Stawell at the main street, sports fields and the skate park.
Ms Lees said more than 300 people had filled out the survey.
“There seems to be a lot of crime in the parks,” Ms Lees said.
“My child was stolen from. His friends have had their scooters stolen, they’ve had their bags and their phones stolen.”
Police want council-run CCTV
Mr Pinto said the original skate park designer’s request for CCTV was rejected because it was not reasonable for council to take on the responsibility for safety.
“It comes down to Victoria Police to look after the general safety of community, so this question should be raised with them,” he said.
“Council doesn’t play a primary role of safety.
“I think it is a bit unfair and unreasonable to expect council to take up multiple roles where there are agencies that have been funded for these specific kind of functions in the society.”
Jeevan Pinto says council-run CCTV could create privacy issues. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
Stawell police Senior Sergeant Terry Hill said while the branch was in “strong support” of CCTV in public spaces, councils were responsible for installing and operating them.
He said cameras would help police target criminal damage and youth-related offending at Stawell’s crime “hotspots”, including the skate park, sports fields and main street.
Senior Sergeant Terry Hill is in “full support” of council-run CCTV in Stawell. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
“Obviously, we see crime in those areas so to support the community, we would be in full support of seeing CCTV footage in those areas,” Senior Sergeant Hill said.
“We want the community to feel safe when they’re going to the skate park or down the street shopping.”
‘Protecting council staff’
Cr Hyslop said there was currently no provision for public safety CCTV in council’s adopted budget, strategic plans or capital works program.
However, NGSC’s current CCTV policy says council can install cameras on council-owned or managed property.
“Council will only consider the installation and use of CCTV systems where there is a direct and demonstrable risk to council personnel or property,” the policy reads.
“All CCTV cameras operated by council are installed solely to support council’s operational interests.”
Children and teenagers often use the Stawell skate park. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)
Cr Hyslop said council-owned skate parks were not covered by CCTV because other safety measures existed.
“We do other things like lighting to make it safer,” she said.
“We would consider any formal petition or community requests for CCTV through normal governance and budget processes.
“Any future proposal would require a strong evidence-based business case, sustainable funding and consideration of long-term operational and privacy obligations.”
