East Pilbara pledges increased security

Newman needs more than “quick fixes” to remedy concerns of growing crime in the region says the local president who has pledged increased security meaures following a night of community talks.

Shire of East Pilbara president Anthony Middleton said Local Government would be investing in security, including BHP funded CCTV cameras and fence installation, to quell community concern, but the long-term solution required time and wraparound initiatives.

Launching this December, the $500,000 project would install CCTV cameras at locations across town as well as gates in the Capricorn precinct.

Mr Middleton said the short-term solutions would compliment the Council’s ongoing work with local agencies to address the root causes of the problem.

“The short term solutions is what the town is looking for but unfortunately quick fixes and an immediate stop of all the activity that is going on is something we will have to chip away at and work on together,” he said.

“It’s a long systemic issue that’s been going on for quite some time and it’s going to need a lot more time and effort to be put into it and organisations working together.

“We will go to Perth and we will lobby the ministers and we will work together with the community organisations and stakeholders in town and see what we can achieve going forward.”

Since the launch of community talks, locals have taken to social media to vent their frustrations.

He said while he understood the concerns of the community, he encouraged people to find tangible solutions to the problem.

“I don’t think putting it on Facebook is going to achieve much. The organisations don’t necessarily look at that. They are trying to put their boots on the ground and put their resources where they need to be.”