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Initial results from a survey of Orewa businesses are inconclusive as to whether a CCTV system is wanted for the town centre, or not (HM August 17).
The survey, circulated by Destination Orewa Beach (DOB) last month, asked business owners whether such a system is needed and offered options as to how the estimated cost of around $36,000 for approximately 18 cameras could be covered on a user-pays basis.
DOB operations manager Hellen Wilkins said the low response rate (about 29 percent of all businesses) has also made things inconclusive.
To the question ‘do you think Orewa needs town wide CCTV coverage’, a slight majority, 41.5 percent of respondents, said ‘yes’; 39.6 percent said ‘no’ and 21.54 percent ‘don’t know’.
Out of those who thought CCTV was needed, 34.4 percent would prefer that businesses individually manage their own system at their own cost while 36.07 percent would prefer to have a town centre-wide system installed at the cost of the businesses.
Several respondents commented that they don’t see the need for a system and others suggested that the Police should fund it.
Mrs Wilkins says as there is no definite majority it is very hard to find a way forward. She says the DOB board of directors will discuss it and if it is decided to move forward, there will be a formal ballot across all businesses. A 51 percent ‘yes’ vote would be required for a system to be installed.
Police instigated the idea of a CCTV network for Orewa. The cameras would enable Police to identify vehicles used by offenders and provide other information of use in solving local crime.
