A LEADING security camera installer, with 12 years’ experience, has labelled the whole Nowra CBD camera debacle as “an embarrassment”.
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David Baker, of ICU Security Cameras has questioned the quality of Shoalhaven City Council’s CCTV system.
“This is an embarrassment to all Shoalhaven ratepayers,” he said.
He said one of the biggest issues with any CCTV system was ensuring it was installed properly and that the Nowra system needed to be checked thoroughly to ensure everything was working.
“I believe the whole system needs to be looked at with a full survey undertaken,” he said.
“I don’t know what cameras they are using, what cabling they have done, whether there is a wireless component.”
He said issues with the quality of the footage recorded could be something as simple as the system not being set up correctly.
“If it [the system] is all connected with the right cabling and recorded on the right component there should be no excuses,” he said.
“If the image isn’t right it could be something as simple as not being set up correctly.
“But I know if I install a system and it doesn’t work or isn’t up to scratch I’m responsible and if the customers aren’t happy with the outcome I don’t get paid.
“I don’t even know who installed this system.
“If the system is not working satisfactorily, is council talking to the installer regarding it?
“There has been a massive change in technology and that technology is always improving,” he said.
“What you get ultimately depends on the customer’s budget but even with the most basic unit now days the quality is good and it provides a clear image.”
Mr Baker said he didn’t tender for the Nowra CBD CCTV job for “a couple of reasons”.
“I deal with a lot councils across NSW and to be brutally honest my time can be better spent making money elsewhere rather than putting up with councils,” he said.
“I can’t really comment on the Nowra cameras too closely without seeing the vision.
“But the biggest thing with camera installation is its location.
“For instance you might go into a place like the North Nowra Tavern and want to put in 20 cameras, I bet I could get the same coverage if not better with 10 cameras, it all comes down to where you put them.
“And that comes with experience.
“Experience allows you to find the locations where you get to see all the angles so the system works.
“Location is everything.
“I’ve not been privy to exactly what council and the police want to see in the Nowra CBD but it is not hard to work out.”
Although admitting he had not seen any raw footage he said he had seen photographs reproduced in the South Coast Register.
“I didn’t think a lot of them,” he said.
“The technology that should be in place that Shoalhaven Council should be using should be 10 80 P or high definition – it should be as clear as watching the footy on the television.
“From the money I have heard they have thrown at the project, it should be an IP system.”
He would not comment of Shoalhaven Council had been “sold a pup”, but he had seen this sort of scenario occurring.
“No question we saw this coming and I have been saying so for some time,” he said.