During yesterday’s infrastructure committee meeting, elected members unanimously approved the recommendation to increase the budget of the project from $250,000 to $1 million, as it would then cover not only the city centre, but also the wider city.
A report from strategic asset planning manager Russel Pearson stated the project was initiated last year after police advised a number of the city centre CCTV cameras were non-operational.
He said Scott Bain from Safer Cities was engaged to provide specialist knowledge, and he visited a number of areas which stakeholders highlighted as areas they thought cameras would be desirable.
The work group strongly supported the wider city approach proposed, he said.
"They saw that the proposal was needed to give sufficient and balanced coverage of the city such that the CCTV would act as a deterrent for crime occurring and support an efficient solving tool ... so as to assist police."
Councillor Nigel Skelt acknowledged the scope and budget was bigger than previously thought, but said it was a paramount tool as Invercargill promoted itself as a safe city.
"We need to be proactive around the wider city."
During the discussion, Mayor Nobby Clark raised some concerns around the liability of council on a potential breach of privacy.
Mr Pearson said the cameras would be kept and monitored by the council, but a privacy impact assessment and a review of the council’s privacy policy would be completed and implemented prior to the system going live.
The additional capital could be funded by borrowings; it would require an increase of 0.02% to the overall rates percentage increase to fund the extra $200,000 in the 2023-24 financial year and 0.05% for the balance of $550,000, he said in his report.
About $150,000 annually would also be needed to support the ongoing operation of the system, Mr Pearson said.
Cr Ria Bond said it was "a long time coming" and she was pleased with the outcome.
The recommendation has to be confirmed by the full council.
