BY OLI GOELDNER
Newcastle Liberal councillor Jenny Barrie is slamming the state government's refusal to provide funding for a proposed CCTV trial on Beaumont Street.
As anti-social behaviour along the Hamilton strip continues to rise, Cr Barrie and the Hamilton Business Improvement Association (BIA) are calling for more protection measures to be put in place.
In April, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp tabled a petition with more than 1000 signatures to Newcastle deputy lord mayor Charlotte McCabe advocating for the installation, days after the release of the Hamilton Community Safety Audit.
The audit outlined several recommendations to help reduce anti-social behaviour along Beaumont Street, including the installation of CCTV surveillance at nine different locations.
Newcastle council and the Hamilton BIA agreed to fund the proposal, as long as the state government covered half.
The Hamilton BIA applied for $100,000 in state funding for the project to the Active Regional Communities package, which has since been denied.
Now, Cr Barrie said the state government is kicking it down the road as an election promise.
"I just don't think that's good enough," she said.
"What happens if they can't get enough money for Newcastle in the election commitments, and if they do get approved it will be next June before the money comes through and then installed by at least August.
"We've been talking about this for two years."
However, Mr Crakanthorp said he's still committed to the project, despite the setback.
"I want to see CCTV on Beaumont St delivered as soon as possible," he said.
"I'd see this more as a speed hump than a roadblock.
"I'll continue to advocate for that money."
On Wednesday morning, Cr Barrie met with residents, businesses and the Hamilton Community Safety Committee to discuss their next possible options.
