City yet to apply for CCTV funding

The Bunbury City Council has yet to apply to the Federal Government’s $50 million fund for CCTV cameras in crime hotspots.

Last April, then Opposition Justice spokesman Michael Keenan visited Bunbury in the lead-up to the election to discuss the expanded use of CCTV cameras in the region.

Mr Keenan said this could be funded by the Coalition’s promised $50 million Safe Streets Program. The money would be spent nationwide over three years for crime prevention infrastructure, including cameras and street lighting.

But Mr Keenan yesterday said the council had not applied for funding. The deadline has passed for the first round of funding.

“We had initial discussions back in April last year, and the council had indicated then that there was scope to expand CCTV coverage as the City of Bunbury population grows, ” he said.

“We’re yet to receive a formal request for funding from the City of Bunbury, but I’ve been briefed about local operations and look forward to receiving a formal submission when the council wishes to pursue more cameras and street lighting.”

Council chief executive Andrew Brien was contacted for comment but in April said the council needed funding before it could expand CCTV coverage.