A big leap forward in the camera surveillance of Masterton and possibly elsewhere in Wairarapa is on the cards with new technology being able to greatly enhance camera range and image quality.
Confirming this yesterday, Masterton mayor Garry Daniell said the town square project had helped bring forward a camera surveillance upgrade that would safeguard the town from crime and vandalism.
He said new technology meant more cameras could be monitored in "vulnerable places" such as the oval at Queen Elizabeth Park, other sports grounds and the town square and centre.
Greater surveillance of Kuripuni was also planned.
"Those areas can be put under scrutiny to prevent vandalism," Mr Daniell said
The park oval was recently subjected to major turf damage by car vandals wheel spinning on it.
He said broadband installation would also allow outlying areas to benefit from the new technology.
Castlepoint and Riversdale had only one road leading to them and cameras at entry points would help identify "perpetrators of periodic burglaries" at the two beach locations.
Other advances with technology meant cameras were "movement activated" and images stored long-term, probably for up to two years..
Mr Daniell said the town's existing 12 cameras were monitored by volunteers at Masterton Police Station but the new technology would allow police in patrol cars to use iPads to see what the cameras were recording.
At this stage it is thought more - and better - cameras for Masterton could be paid for from a depreciation reserves fund, with each new camera installation costing $7500, but quotes were still being sought to meet the overall cost of the revamped system.
Although the number of cameras operating in Masterton would increase it would not result in "a plethora of cameras", although the new system would allow for that if it was ever thought necessary.
Mr Daniell said ideally a single system operating across the entire Wairarapa would be the best bet.
"There is the potential for cameras to be positioned at strategic points throughout the region with the summit of the Rimutaka Hill being an obvious place.
"That would not only help police with traffic control but also with monitoring the weather conditions."
Mr Daniell said while camera surveillance could be considered an intrusion of private rights "tools to combat crime, vandalism and graffiti" are needed to safeguard property and personal safety.
Some towns spent hundreds of thousands of dollars tackling graffiti and vandalism.
"It is intended to link the new system to our Masterton District Council website so that views of our townscape can be accessed from anywhere in the world," Mr Daniell said.