![One of the CCTV cameras recently installed in Balclutha. Photo by Samuel White.](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_21_10/public/story/2016/08/b-cctvbalclutha_2.jpg?itok=gCjx2b0R)
The installation began on June 20 and was completed last Monday.
The cameras are positioned in key public areas of the main area in the Balclutha township.
Clutha District Council capital delivery manager Steve Gordon said all the cameras had been installed and the council was now ensuring the system operated correctly.
"We’re now going through a commissioning and training phase so we can make sure the system is working as it should," he said.
That is expected to take place over the next few weeks and will involve training local police and council staff in addition to testing for any faults.
Mr Gordon said there had been a "slight delay" in the installation of the system as most of the radio transmitting systems and cameras were supplied from overseas.
"You have to order these things, so you have to depend on suppliers," he said.
The installation had cost about $83,000 and was within the budgeted amount.
The camera feed is connected to the Balclutha Police Station only but will eventually be outsourced to the police command centre in Dunedin.
Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Alistair Dickie, of Balclutha, was unsure when that connection would be done.
"That may take a wee bit longer, so in the interim we’ve had monitoring at the Balclutha station," he said.
The Dunedin centre already monitored several feeds from towns in other districts.
Police in Balclutha were not actively monitoring the cameras but they had the ability to go back and review footage.
"It’s really a bit difficult unless you’ve got some sort of pattern going on," Snr Sgt Dickie said.
However, it was beneficial to be able to review footage if something was reported to police.
"There hasn’t been, to my knowledge, a need to look back at the footage for anything."
He hoped to increase the monitoring during busier periods such as Friday and Saturday nights.
Snr Sgt Dickie said he was pleased the council had backed the project.