Penny Maguire

PENNY MAGUIRE QUESTION 1 This is a follow up from the Notified Motion presented by Councillor Phillips regarding the assessment of the current and possible expanded coverage of CCTV cameras in Hastings St and Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct. Does the Council have a plan to address the security situation in these areas where some recent events have resulted in serious injury? If there are plans to asses/remedy the issue please outline what that would look like. Answer provided by Trent Grauf, Director Corporate Services Question 1 This is a follow up from the Notified Motion presented by Councillor Phillips regarding the assessment of the current and possible expanded coverage of CCTV cameras in Hastings St and Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct. Does the Council have a plan to address the security situation in these areas where some recent events have resulted in serious injury? If there are plans to asses/remedy the issue please outline what that would look like. Officer Response Council Budget Commitment With the adoption of the 2024/25 budget, Council adopted to develop a CCTV Strategy. This document was intended as a holistic assessment and plan to address CCTV security technology across the Shire. This intended to include not only the following:  Condition assessment and technology service continuity of the existing infrastructure,  Gap analysis  Technology options analysis But the strategy also aims to address:  Engagement with QPS and business associations as key partners on their needs  The role of CCTV as part of a broader multifaceted model of security and safety measures. (As such the CCTV strategy also has strong linkages to Council’s community strategy, QPS’s service delivery model and the Hastings Street Community Precinct Safety Charge for security patrols)  The role of public vs private property CCTV  Address any uncertainties over technology, asset and data responsibilities and ownership  Ensuring current and new technology meets Privacy legislation requirements  Provide a clear and consistent funding model for not only the installation but ongoing operation, maintenance and replacement (in terms of who pays for this technology between Council, QPS, business precincts and the broader ratepayers)  This final CCTV Plan document also provides the necessary scope and support for pursuing grant funding applications. This is important given that the cost of effectively servicing key precincts such as Hastings St, Noosa Junction or hinterland townships will be a major undertaking that may be in a cost range that could exceed million dollars across multiple catchments. Note that it was not the intent of the CCTV Strategy to undertake any physical work to upgrade or install more CCTV units or technology modifications. Actions Taken to Date Following the motion endorsed by Council, staff have put the progress of the broader shire-wide strategy on temporary hold and redirected focus on proceeding with a focus review of the existing Hastings Street Precinct CCTV infrastructure to assess:  Connectivity and network stability assessment  Field of View (or line of sight) for existing CCTV Units  Infrastructure gap analysis identifying works required; and  A schedule of works plan Following Councillor Phillips’ recommendation, Council has also started exploring a wholistic approach known as CPTED or Crime Prevention through Environmental consistent with guidelines distributed by the Queensland Police. CPTED as a complement to active security surveillance can provide proactive precinct improvements including space stewardship and activation that make a site safe from a proactive perspective and prevent the opportunity for crime in the future. Council looks forward to advancing this topic with precinct stakeholders. It is anticipated this review will be completed over the next 3 months for report back to Council before undertaking any recommended works. Once the Hastings Street priority focus notice of motion is addressed, Council officers will revert back to progressing the shire-wide strategy. Recognising these reviews take time and the critical implications on community safety, as a result Council recently implemented temporary measures during the current holiday season by putting in a number of additional temporary CCTV units in the Hastings Street precinct to improve baseline coverage. Recognition of the Current Concerns Regarding Community Safety Council continue to acknowledge the ongoing concerns raised by the community about public safety and security in not only in the Hastings Street precinct, which is impacted particularly by technology issues from aging infrastructure and limited visibility during peak periods, but also the concerns of public safety and security across the entire shire in other areas such as Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Tewantin and the hinterland townships where in most cases no technology-based safety and security measures such as CCTV are presently in place. Council will continue to work collaboratively with QPS as well as business associations and residents to progress the matter. QUESTION 2 Nil.