New cameras help the SCA crackdown on trespassers
1 Jul 11
The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) has purchased five new surveillance cameras to help target illegal activity and trespassers in the restricted lands surrounding the drinking water dams.
SCA Chief Executive Officer Michael Bullen said the new cameras strengthen the security measures the organisation has in place to protect the integrity of Sydney’s drinking water.
“The restricted lands, or Special Areas surrounding our water supplies protect them by acting as a buffer zone to help stop nutrients and other material from washing into the water storages,” said Mr Bullen.
“These new surveillance cameras will help the SCA further protect those Special Areas from illegal activity and will be used in conjunction with existing cameras, regular mobile patrols and aerial surveillance.
“They include a camera that is less than 5cm wide and hardly recognisable to the human eye.
It can be concealed and mounted to any man-made or natural object and placed in locations that are known for illegal entry.”
Mr Bullen explained the surveillance cameras provide valuable information about patterns of illegal behaviour.
“The cameras tell us specifically what date and time the illegal activity has occurred, so we can target these times and places.
“This range of measures means there is a very high chance of getting caught if you are doing the wrong thing in any of the Special Areas,” Mr Bullen said.
SCA surveillance cameras, along with regular patrols, have proved to be highly successful with 66 people caught in the Special Area and issued fines in 2010 alone.
“These people were caught engaging in a number of illegal activities including walking, mountain bike riding and trail bike riding in restricted lands, which can damage vegetation, cause erosion and can have a negative impact on water quality and biodiversity”.
“While most people understand the importance of protecting our water supply, increased surveillance is necessary in detecting people who ignore these important restrictions on access,” concluded Mr Bullen.
Fines of $300 to $44,000 apply for illegal entry and unauthorised activities, with higher penalties available if the matter is referred for prosecution.