Webcams help beat traffic jams

Northern Motorway. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Customers and employees of businesses in the Albany Basin will soon be able to assess traffic delays before choosing whether to set off - thanks to webcams aimed at seven main entry and exit points.

Congested roads serving the huge industrial estate have long been a frustration at peak times.

Yesterday, approval to install the cameras was given to the North Harbour Business Association, which serves 1300 businesses, which, in turn, employ 13,000 people.

"The association's survey in 2007 showed traffic congestion to be the No 1 issue and the cameras are an effective way to help with traffic management as well as crime reduction," said association general manager Gary Holmes.

He said the association would pay the $80,000 cost of installing cameras and live streaming to the public via the internet during extended business hours. The money would come from a targeted rate on businesses now possible under Albany's new "business improvement district" status.

Mr Holmes hoped three or four camera sites would be running by late August.

It would be accompanied by a "look before you leave" campaign to encourage workers to check for peak traffic snarl-ups, or consider other ways of travel such as bus or bicycle.

Motorists might delay their departure for home or work instead of adding to peak traffic jams.

The proposal says filming outside the 6am to 9pm live feeds would be recorded and be available to the police as evidence for crime investigation.

On the web, privacy would be protected by pre-setting the cameras so public viewers could not change the direction or zoom in on any vehicle or person.

Vehicle registration plates would appear blurred.

Cameras would not be monitored and a base station at a private company would securely store the high-resolution film for a period before its reuse in the cameras.

Police North Shore area commander Inspector Les Paterson said the cameras were primarily for civil traffic management purposes rather than crime monitoring.

"However, closed-circuit television provides an excellent investigative tool for resolving crime."

Mr Paterson said cameras used to monitor the North Shore Busway had so far helped solve cases of robbery, rape and serious criminal damage.

He said the North Shore City Council's CCTV policy covered privacy and police access to film.

Police had to go through a similar procedure to applying to the courts for a warrant to gain access to material.

Access had to be approved by a senior council manager.

"It has to be necessary in the interests of law and order."

Mr Paterson said the police did not have facilities and resources to monitor additional CCTV cameras.

Albany Community Board chairman John McLean supported the association for its "proactive approach to alleviate traffic columns at peak hour".

The board also believed camera surveillance would bring a safer environment.

"The Albany Basin is served by a number of leading schools whose students and parents transit through this district each day."

Yesterday, city councillors approved a licence for the cameras to be placed on its traffic-light poles.

They also granted a policy exemption to allow public access to live coverage between 6am and 9pm.

Officers said businesses would be able to access live camera feeds via an online interactive map on the association's website.

The map would also give bus stop locations and bus timetables and routes and facilities for cyclists

The CCTV cameras will be placed at these intersections: Rosedale Rd/Bush Rd; Albany Highway/Rosedale Rd; Albany Highway/Bush Rd; Upper Harbour Highway/Paul Matthews Rd; Paul Matthews Rd/Bush Rd; Apollo Drive/Rosedale Rd; Tawa Drive/Rosedale Rd.

ON THE WEB