June 21, 2011
Four Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at the Seymour Street and Stockland Plaza taxi ranks in Traralgon inside the next three weeks to improve community safety and deter anti-social behaviour.
State Member for Morwell Russell Northe and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester have been given an overview of the camera locations and the benefits they will provide to the local community by Latrobe City Council (LCC), Stockland Plaza and local businesses who all help to form the Traralgon CBD Safety Committee.
Funding for the cameras came as a result of the committee and LCC’s application to the Taxi Rank Safety Program (TRSP), which Mr Northe and Mr Chester both supported.
Mr Northe said the cameras would help improve safety 24 hours a day for Latrobe Valley residents.
“Safety at local taxi ranks has been raised by local residents and I know several residents who have been particularly concerned about the level of safety at the rank located on Seymour Street,” Mr Northe said.
“These concerns are heightened at night on weekends, when patrons of the entertainment precinct are waiting for transport home.
“I believe the cameras will be a good addition to other initiatives to improve community safety being carried out by council, the Traralgon CBD Safety Committee and the State Government like the proposed reintroduction of the Nightrider Bus service.”
Mr Chester, who has been fighting for more Federal Government funding to invest in community crime prevention, said the CCTV cameras were a step in the right direction but more funding was needed across the Latrobe Valley to enable a more community based approach to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“It’s important that we provide a safe precinct for people to enjoy a night out and travel home safely,” Mr Chester.
“The CCTV cameras are a good start to improving community safety and deterring anti-social behaviour at taxi ranks.
“However, it has taken a lot of hard work by council and the Traralgon CBD Safety Committee to access the funds to obtain the cameras and install them.
“Safety within our communities is everybody’s problem and I believe it’s time for a national strategy with more resources to combat the problem at a local level.
“The Federal Government needs to recognise the growing issue of community safety in regional communities and provide a greater level of funding to support local initiatives which would combat increased levels of violence and anti-social behaviour.”