Square cameras set to beat vandals

WE ARE WATCHING: Vandals defacing tiles and damaging trees in the Town Square are coming under scrutiny. PHOTO/FILE

Vandals targeting Masterton Town Square will come under the spotlight with the installation of temporary surveillance cameras to be followed by more sophisticated high-definition cameras.

The move was confirmed at a meeting of Masterton District Council's policy and finance committee on Wednesday in the wake of wanton vandalism a few days prior that resulted in tree saplings being snapped off in an overnight attack.

The new square has also been defaced by cyclists skidding over the tiled pathways, leaving black skidmarks behind.

Footage from the surveillance cameras will be monitored at Masterton Police Station and will be stored, allowing police to revisit the film for up to two months.

News of the impending arrival of the high-powered cameras was received with only Councillor Gary Caffell questioning their use.

Mr Caffell said when it became known cameras would sweep the square he had been contacted by "law abiding citizens" who felt their privacy could be invaded.

Those people, he said, used the square to sit "and have a cuddle or whatever they do" and felt there was a thin line between what was surveillance and what was intrusion into their lives.

Meanwhile, the council has awarded a contract for upgrading the closed circuit television system at the police station.

Advanced Security Group Ltd secured the contract with the lowest tendered price of $32,285, excluding GST.

Four tenders were received and the price was well inside the council's budget estimate of $45,000 to $55,000.

Two other council contracts have also been let.

The strengthening of Wardells Bridge over the Ruamahanga River was awarded to Concrete Solutions Ltd for $151,717, excluding GST, being the lowest of six tenders and well within the estimate of $234,000, and a contract for kerbing in the urban ward was won by Higgins Contractors Ltd.

Higgins had submitted the lowest of two tenders, being $54,856.