Eye In The Sky For Airlie And Proserpine

Whitsunday wrongdoers could soon have eyes in the sky keeping them under watch.

Whitsunday Regional Council has applied for more than $1.6 million in federal funding under the Safer Streets program to install CCTV cameras in key strategic areas including the Airlie Beach main street, around the lagoon and on Proserpine’s main street.

Federal member for Dawson George Christensen said, if successful, the project would make these areas safer.

“And if you can make these sites safer by having these CCTV cameras there, that can perhaps deter any illegal activity,” he said.

“If there is something that happens, the police and others can access that (footage) and find who is responsible.”

Mr Christensen said it would also make Airlie Beach a more attractive prospect for tourists who often took safety concerns into consideration.

“So it’s about improving safety for residents as well as tourists,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Proserpine the cameras could help deter crime – a move that would no doubt be welcomed by the business community following the recent spate of break and enters.

“I note we have had some criminal activity that is affecting businesses in the main street in Prossie, and if we had CCTV cameras there already, perhaps it would have either deterred that or would have brought the people who were responsible to justice,” Mr Christensen said, noting however, the project was still in the funding application phase.

“We’ve just got to wait to see what pans out,” he said.

SOURCE: WHITSUNDAY TIMES