Wyndham council has been slammed for taking a “passive” approach to community safety by refusing to install surveillance cameras in Werribee’s Station Place.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury told Star Weekly he had been campaigning for the council to install CCTV cameras in the area for almost four years.
“I’ve been raising this with the council since being elected. Absolutely they [CCTV cameras] should be installed,” Mr Elsbury said.
“Some councils in the west seem to have an aversion to cameras and I don’t know why that is.
“Wyndham council has decided to take a … passive approach to crime.”
Mr Elsbury was in Werribee last Friday to announce $250,000 in state government funding for lighting improvements around Station Place.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Post a comment below
Including money contributed by Wyndham council, a total of $313,000 will be spent to increase lighting in laneways and other secluded areas around Werribee train station.
Mr Elsbury said that while lighting was an important first step, CCTV cameras were the next logical upgrade.
“It’s not just for violent crimes,” he said. “With things like car thefts or drug deals, cameras could save police a lot of time during their investigations.
“It makes no sense to me why you wouldn’t want to install them.
“I think the councillors need to move a motion that the next time funding for CCTV cameras is available the council should apply for it.”
Wyndham council community services director Kelly Grigsby said the council was working with stakeholders to make the whole of Wyndham a safer place to live, but cameras could be an expensive investment.
“Closed circuit television (CCTV) can be a useful crime prevention strategy, depending on the context and circumstances,” Ms Grigsby said.
“Costs for installing, maintaining and reviewing CCTV vary significantly, depending on the location, project and model used.
“However, evidence is clear that the use of CCTV cameras can involve considerable initial and ongoing costs.”
Ms Grigsby said the council was working with police to improve perceptions of safety at Station Place.
“Wyndham City is also part of a group convened by Victoria Police to explore how a sense of community safety within the Werribee central business precinct can be strengthened,” she said.
“The council is committed to working collaboratively with this group to support local solutions for the area.”
John Gibbons and Intaj Khan were the only Wyndham councillors who returned requests for comment.
Both said they would support installing cameras in Station Place.
