CCTV monitoring will be installed in the Kotuku St and Takapu St area. Photo / Google Maps
CCTV monitoring will be installed in the Kotuku St and Takapu St area. Photo / Google Maps
A petition of more than 30 Camberley residents sick of illegal behaviour in the Hastings suburb's streets has prompted a council crackdown.
At its latest meeting, Hastings District Council moved to develop new ways to reduce burnouts, speeding, anti-social behaviour and threats to residents.
CCTV monitoring will be installed inthe Kotuku St and Takapu St area to help police in the coming months but cameras may also be moved to other intersections in the area during this time, a HDC spokesperson said.
If the monitoring and police action prove ineffective, access to public spaces, or roading design in the area, could change.
"Implementation of these will be considered by council alongside the policing actions and further information gathered from the community," a Hastings District Council spokesperson said.
Design work on various concepts will proceed during the lockdown, Hastings District Council group manager asset management Craig Thew said.
Exact timeframes could not be provided by council due to the Covid-19 response.
"There may be a delay in reporting back to the next council meeting, depending on the demands of both council and police resources due to the wider national event needs," Thew said.
Residents of Takapu Road and Kotuku Street signed a petition asking council to assist with slowing the dangerous and disruptive behaviour in the streets. Photo / Google Maps
The moves follow discussions with residents and a petition from more than 30 residents of Kotuku and Takapu streets, led by Sally Maoate, which council received in May 2019. It asked council to assist in slowing dangerous and disruptive traffic in the streets.
At the council meeting Maoate said "If there is not an immediate course of action to reduce the speed and limit open spaces currently being used to perform these manoeuvres, there will certainly be a fatality in our beautiful suburb".
Maoate said the council response has been "very good".
HDC site investigations found tyre marks as evidence of burnouts throughout Kotuku St, Takapu St and Kiwi St.
Councillor Eileen Lawson said after attending council barbecues with Camberley residents in January it was clear the safety of the streets was the No 1 concern of residents.
Councillor Peleti Oli spoke at the meeting of his brother being the victim of similar reckless behaviour in Flaxmere.
"This has been happening long enough. What more evidence do we need ... I think it's time to do something and action something now," he said.
