The Clarence City Council has installed eight new CCTV cameras at the Rosny bus mall in a bid to crack down on escalating vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Police say a group of about 20 repeat offenders are responsible for much of the trouble at the busy transit hub on Hobart’s eastern shore.
The upgrade comes just days after free public transport was rolled out across Tasmania until the end of June, with the bus mall expected to see a significant increase in foot traffic.
Mayor Brendan Blomeley said people deserved to feel safe using the space.
“[The] bus mall is a major public space and people should be able to use it without feeling unsafe or intimidated,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the behaviour of a small number of people has meant we have had to invest heavily in upgrading the cameras in the area.”
“This is a practical and necessary response.”
Blomeley said the council hoped the footage would help police identify offenders.
“If CCTV footage helps Tasmania Police identify offenders and hold them accountable, that is a positive outcome for the whole community,” he said.
The problems are not confined to the bus mall.
A section of the Kangaroo Bay Jetty was stolen two weeks ago, the synthetic cricket pitch at North Warrane Oval has been destroyed and playground equipment across the municipality has been damaged or taken.
Blomeley said the damage bill was running into the tens of thousands of dollars.
“This is time and resources that should be going into parks, playground upgrades, sporting facilities and services, but is instead being spent on repairs, clean-ups and replacements,” he said.
The mayor said some residents had gone as far as requesting boom gates to restrict access to public spaces.
“Shutting the community out of public spaces is not something I would want to see, but it may be a necessary step in ensuring the safety and respectful use of an area,” Blomeley said.
