Installation of Oamaru's first CCTV network is getting under way.
Cabling is being installed first so the Waitaki District Council can put up the first five cameras.
The initial sites for cameras will be: at Harbourside Station (corner of Itchen and Humber Sts), at the North Otago Yacht and Powerboat Club on Waterfront Rd, at the intersection of Severn and Thames Sts, at the Junction shopping block and in the North End shopping area.
''We're [also] looking at options for Harbour St to meet the needs of that area,'' council community safety and development facilitator Helen Algar said.
The CCTV network will be able to monitor traffic flow in and out of Oamaru.
More areas have been identified for future installations and the network could eventually expand to 16 cameras.
It had been a complex task and several factors had determined the timeframe.
''It's taken us quite a lot longer than we anticipated, but because we've had the time we've done things really well,'' Mrs Algar said.
''At the end of the day, we want to have a quality system, of the highest standard possible, that meets the needs of the community in a way that respects their privacy.''
The cameras will feed information to the Oamaru police station and be monitored on Friday and Saturday nights by trained volunteer observers. At other times, footage could be reviewed.
''We're also looking at the option of linking it in to the District Command Centre in Dunedin,'' Mrs Algar said.
Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy of Oamaru, said CCTV could go a long way towards preventing crime, particularly wilful damage.
Cameras would give police an extra sets of eyes and would be hugely beneficial in investigations, in terms of evidential value, Snr Sgt McCoy said.
Community support for the project had been ''amazing'', with volunteers giving their time and local businesses contributing materials and labour.
''We're getting something worth in excess of $140,000, for about $30,000,'' Mrs Algar said.
''We've got a really committed team of volunteers which has saved us, literally, tens of thousands of dollars because of the voluntary work and the community contribution.''
