Emerald Pharmacy’s Louisa Lammers, La Trobe MP Jason Wood and local technology expert Danny Gow discuss the need for CCTV cameras. 50392
By Tania Martin
EMERALD could soon rely on Big Brother to keep an eye on crime if a Liberal government is elected in the upcoming Federal polls.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood last week announced a $150,000 election promise for Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
This comes just weeks after Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor visited the town to discuss the prospects of such a system.
At the time he told traders the commonwealth was looking at refunding its Better Suburbs Program which addresses safety issues such as the need for security cameras.
For the past six months Emerald traders have been working with local police calling for a CCTV system.
This followed a spate of break-ins earlier this year.
Emerald Pharmacy’s Louisa Lammers said although the town only had low grade crimes such as graffiti and youths “running amok” it was still a big problem.
She said one of the biggest concerns was damage done to shop windows.
Ms Lammers said some concerned residents hope the cameras would stop motorists speeding up and down the streets.
“The community feels they would benefit from have the cameras,” she said.
Emerald Technology Centre’s Danny Gow said his shop windows in the main street had been scratched so badly it would cost $7500 to replace them but he could not afford that.
“This type of thing starts to bring the area down which is not what we want,” he said.
Mr Gow said the cameras were a vital tool for the police being able to catch the culprits and make them pay for the damage they have done. “For us we want to try and provide a good environment in the town because there are a lot of tourists and if our place isn’t looking good no one will come here,” he said.
Announcing the cash last Thursday, Mr Wood said CCTV cameras were a major election issue for the people in Emerald.
He said the money would go to the traders and police to work together on what was needed for Emerald.
Traders hope to use Emerald Technologies for the hub to house the cameras or alternatively at the police station.
“They (the cameras) are a great deterrent and prosecution tool,” Mr Wood said.
