Maitland City Council has chosen not to apply for federal funding to set up CCTV cameras in Central Maitland, East Maitland and Rutherford.
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It will instead spend $25,000 on a consultant to report on which crime prevention methods and tools would best suit the region.
The decision not to apply for a piece of the Safer Streets Program came at Tuesday’s first council meeting of the year after staff advised councillors that a five-year downward trend in crime across the Maitland local government area would be a barrier in winning a grant.
Several councillors said they were disappointed about the recommendation from council staff but would vote for it regardless.
Deputy mayor Cr Bob Geoghegan said CCTV cameras were useful crime prevention tools that had helped his business.
“I think they’re very worthy,” he said. “I’m very disappointed but I can see what we have to do.”
Cr Robert Aitchison said he wanted council to apply for funding despite the arguments against doing so.
But general manager David Evans said council needed expert advice on the best crime prevention strategies.
The Safer Streets Program offers grants for initiatives that improve safety in crime hot spots across Australia.
Debate about the need for CCTV in central Maitland and Rutherford ramped up last year after a spate of break-ins, thefts and damage at businesses in The Levee and ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour in the Rutherford shopping precinct.
Cr Loretta Baker said there was a need for CCTV cameras to improve security in The Levee.
“I live very close to The Levee and spend a lot of time there and I know there’s been a need for CCTV,” she said.
Cr Nicole Penfold said she was disappointed with the lack of progress since talk of the need for CCTV cameras began.
“Here we are in 2016 and only just talking about possibly implementing a committee,” she said.
The former Labor government pledged money for the CCTV equipment before the 2013 election, but lost office before it could deliver the funding.
“Council is best placed to determine where scarce ratepayer dollars are best spent,” Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said. “But if Tony Abbott had not withdrawn the original funding council would not have to be spending anything.”
