Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has today announced more than $145,000 from Round Two of the Coalition’s Safer Streets Programme to fund closed-circuit television (CCTV) in Bourke.
The Safer Streets Programme supports communities at the grass roots to help address crime and anti-social behaviour and boost crime prevention initiatives to keep our streets safe.
Under this funding commitment, the Bourke Shire Council will receive $146,020 to upgrade eight CCTV cameras and install seven new cameras at five locations in Bourke.
“It is so important that people feel safe walking around the streets in their own town,” Mr Coulton said.
“Like a lot of towns in Western NSW, Bourke has had its fair share of issues with crime.
“I am very pleased that the Safer Streets Programme can provide assistance to the Bourke community to help tackle this local issue and go some way to helping the community to feel safer.”
Minister for Justice Michael Keenan said the funding is drawn from the Proceeds of Crime Account – that is money taken from criminals and reinvested into prevention of further crime.
“Only safe communities can be strong and prosperous, and the best way to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour is to prevent it from happening,” Mr Keenan said.
“The Coalition will continue to reinvest money confiscated from criminals and put them towards projects that make our streets and communities safer.
“I congratulate Mark Coulton for his ongoing lobbying efforts in Canberra to deliver for his communities back home, and to ensure this project became a reality for his constituents.”
In the first funding round, the Safer Streets Programme provided $19.5 million for specific projects for the installation of CCTV and lighting. This is the second round of funding which will be delivered in two streams.
The first stream will fund community safety infrastructure such as CCTV and lighting. CCTV is an effective crime prevention measure that provides significant deterrence to anti-social behaviour and is a valuable investigative tool. The second stream will deliver crime prevention initiatives by supporting the vital work of PCYC and Bluelight organisations.
Further information on the Safer Streets Programme is available at www.ag.gov.au
Media contacts:
Minister Keenan: Emily Broadbent M: 0400 390 008 / Shannen Wilkinson M: 0476 820 816
Mr Coulton: Amy Welham M: 0448 477 830
