Surveillance cameras at Mandurah’s war memorial promised by WA Labor are about to be installed thanks to money already delivered by the federal government, the City of Mandurah has revealed.
On Wednesday, Labor’s Mandurah MP David Templeman pledged $350,000 for two CCTV cameras at the site, but according to the City, the war memorial would be covered with $150,000 promised by Canning MP Andrew Hastie during the 2015 Canning byelection.
“The City secured federal funding as an election commitment from the Liberal party via Andrew Hastie to deliver Stage 2 of the Family Friendly Foreshore which includes lighting and CCTV of the Mandurah war memorial,” a City spokeswoman said.
“This has been well publicised and funding announcements have been made, this was for $150,000.
“Final planning is underway for the CCTV at the war memorial and the installation will commence shortly.”
Although the revelation puts the commitment in doubt, Mr Templeman said the money could be used for surveillance black spots at the War Memorial or other sites around Mandurah.
“I understand that during the planning phase of the CCTV roll-out for the war memorial that a number of black spots were identified and could not be remedied due to a lack of funds,” he said.
“The RSL and City staff identified the need for more to be done at this location.
“My announcement made last week of $350,000 will enable the War Memorial to be fully covered.
“If there are any funds left once the war memorial has been completed in full, then those funds can be applied to other black spots within the city such as the area along Mandurah Terrace between the Smart Street Mall and Pinjarra Road and a much needed upgrade to the fibre optics to prevent drop outs between the Council premises, the foreshore and the Mandurah Police Station.”
The City spokeswoman said $350,000 could be used for upgrades to the CCTV network and “may include some additional coverage at the war memorial”, although this had been considered but not planned.
“The City has a CCTV master plan and this funding will go towards increasing coverage in a number of identified black spots,” she said.
In 2015 the war memorial was damaged by vandals and more than $20,000 worth of equipment was stolen from reserves and playgrounds including Quarry Park in Meadow Springs, Caterpillar Park, the Coodanup foreshore, the Novara foreshore in Erskine, and the Dawesville foreshore.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
