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Businesses in Orewa have been canvassed to see whether there is support for a user-pays CCTV camera system within the town centre.
Business organisation Destination Orewa Beach is surveying its members on the proposal. It suggests that approximately 18 cameras would be needed to cover the town centre, at an initial ‘ballpark’ cost of around $36,000.
The survey, which was circulated on August 3, asks business owners whether Orewa needs town centre-wide CCTV. It offers options as to how the cost could be split between them. Another option put forward is to increase the 2017/18 BID levy (which all businesses in the area pay to Destination Orewa Beach) by the full installation cost.
Comment was also sought on other options, such as each business managing their CCTV requirements in their own way.
Neither Destination Orewa nor Police wished to comment on the proposal at this stage, saying it is too early in the process.
Security company Insite Security has been involved in the planning of the proposed Orewa camera network. The company’s general manager, Chris Martin, says that Police instigated the idea of a CCTV network because Orewa is one area that has become a target for burglars.
“Crime is trending upwards in Orewa, with more after hours burglaries, and it’s an appropriate time to address it,” he says.
He says while many local businesses have in-store cameras, a network outside can be used to identify vehicles and individuals of interest to police. “When an offence is committed, you get a look at what vehicle they are using, virtually instantaneously,” Chris says. He says that Orewa is a good candidate for a system of security cameras because there are limited entry and access points to the town.
Warkworth is about to get its 12th CCTV camera and Chris says that the system has been a great crime deterrent there.
He says if a system goes ahead in Orewa it can be set up to be monitored by the community or Police volunteers.
The results of Destination Orewa’s survey should be in this week and will determine whether the plan progresses to a ballot across all businesses, or if such a system is not deemed necessary.
