Yet another request for funding will be issued to the State and Federal governments in what seems to be Maitland City Council's never ending quest to install CCTV in crime hot spots.
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The matter was again raised at a this week's council meeting by West Ward councillor Henry Meskauskas.
According to Mercury files, repeated calls for CCTV funding and installation have been made to all tiers of government over the past six years.
However in July last year Liberal councillor Mitchell Griffin sought to set the wheels in motion for funding for the roll out of CCTV in two locations. He asked council to apply for the NSW Government's Community Safety Fund to have CCTV installed at Fred Harvey Sports Centre at Woodberry, and West Mall, Rutherford.
Council's Planning Manager Bernie Mortomore said at that time that having looked at the guidelines and application criteria, it would be difficult to provide a fully documented and evidence-based CCTV proposal by the 2018 due date.
This week, Cr Meskauskas asked about the progress of a fresh report on options and costs to install CCTV at those two locations and also in The Levee as part of council's delivery program. He said the Rutherford funding alone would be in the vicinity of $150,000.
Council was advised in March that a grant application to the State under its Community Safety Fund, was unsuccessful. Another application will be prepared soon.
"I've spoken to Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson and Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison who are also on the lookout for any funds available," Cr Meskauskas said.
He said Maitland was not considered in the last round of State grants which were awarded to five other councils to fund projects in their areas.
