The community safety camera (CCTV) project, made possible with Department of Internal Affairs Better Off Funding, is one step closer to completion after monitoring and delivery contracts were awarded this month.

In 2022, the Council received $1 million from the Better Off Fund to deliver and upgrade the existing community safety camera network with modern cameras, add more cameras and improve system monitoring abilities. 

After a robust consultation that identified the best locations and order of priority for 33 new cameras, the Mayor and Councillors agreed unanimously with the recommendations presented to them at a Council meeting in July. The next step was to complete an open tender process and award contracts for the installation of 33 new cameras, upgrade of 11 of the 44 existing cameras and ongoing monitoring. 

Project manager Ian Morton says the tender process was successful and two contracts have now been awarded.

“We’re thrilled to announce that WatchU has gained the contract to deliver and install the new cameras and upgrade some of the existing cameras, and Armitage Group will run the 24/7 monitoring contract for three years,” Mr Morton explains.

"Both these organisations are highly professional, competent contractors that will be able to deliver their respective responsibilities on-time and within budget.”

Although locality carries weight as a criteria in the tender process, no local providers submitted a tender. Mr Morton said that is often the reality in provincial areas across the country with tenders that require specialist technical skills. 

“These are significant contracts and we feel very confident that WatchU and Armitage Group are well-equipped to deliver them, and they have also indicated they will use local sub-contractors where possible."

Work will get underway from Monday, 16 October to replace cameras in the Whakatāne CBD. This will lead to the installation of new cameras across the Whakatāne District, including in Murupara, Tāneatua, Edgecumbe, Thornton, Whakatāne, and Ōhope.

Mr Morton says the 24/7 monitoring, expected to be active by the end of the month, will have immediate benefits in terms of police response.

“In the past, the live feeds to the local police station have been unmonitored due to resourcing challenges. Now, Armitage Group will be able to use real-time footage to aid police response to events as they are unfolding.”

The installation of all cameras will be completed by early December, which is ahead of the original schedule. It is also anticipated that there may be surplus budget available to fund several lower-priority cameras identified in the ‘wish list’ presented to Council.

The project is a collaboration between Whakatāne District Council and NZ Police, with input from independent security experts and the wider Whakatāne District community.