‘Police Should Pay For CCTV’

December 17, 2025

Some South Burnett councillors believe police should be paying for the upkeep of street CCTV systems but they have supported a suggestion that Council investigate taking over the role.

The SBRC voted on Wednesday to investigate the cost of taking over the management – and ongoing expenses – associated with the CCTV security cameras in Murgon and Wondai.

The Murgon cameras are currently looked after by the Murgon Business and Development Association at a cost of about $3000 a year; 10 are now out of order.

The Wondai cameras are maintained by the Wondai Lions Club, at an unknown annual cost to the club.

Wednesday’s Council meeting was told the CCTV cameras in Nanango were supported by Heritage Nanango Community Funding.

The cameras in Kingaroy were maintained by Council.

Deputy Mayor Ros Heit said that as all the CCTV footage goes to the police, who use it in their prosecutions, the QPS should pay for maintaining the camera systems.

“They convict people on the basis of that footage,” Cr Heit said.

“Police should be repairing them because they use them each and every day.”

Cr Jane Erkens agreed, saying police officers had told Council “to stay within their lane” in regards to policing issues, so maintaining the CCTV cameras should be a police job.

“You are asking our ratepayers to pay for policing,” she said.

Mayor Kathy Duff said the issue had been raised previously with senior police and the State Government who “had no appetite at all” to pay for the CCTV cameras.

“They won’t even consider it,” Mayor Duff said.

Manager Leanne Petersen told the meeting Council had received funding for 12 new cameras and lighting around the Murgon skatepark and for lighting around the Blackbutt skatepark.

A report on the cost of the SBRC maintaining the Murgon and Wondai cameras will be prepared for the February meeting of council.

* * *

* * *

Council has voted to liaise with the Blackbutt RSL Sub-Branch to finalise the design of a new commemorative monument to be located on land along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.

After the design is finalised, the Sub-Branch will lease the land for 10 years.

The meeting was told the existing monument, in Coulson Street, would remain but the location of the new monument would improve accessibility, relieve car-parking issues and save money.

A wreath would still be laid on the existing monument during commemorations after the new monument was constructed.

* * *

Councillors voted to approve an application for a Development Permit for Material Change of Use for a community centre at 3384 Bunya Mountains Road, Bunya Mountains.

The project is being developed by the Bunya Mountains Community Association Inc.

The site is 1217sq m in area.

* * *

Cr Erkens said that following ongoing complaints on social media about the water quality in Nanango, she had invited community members to join a working group to investigate funding options for a water upgrade but had been disappointed with the response.

She said the invitation was still open.

* * *

Cr Danita Potter drew attention to two matters, listed in a Planning and Development report, which she said would be good news for Kingaroy:

• The application for material change of use for a motel extension (24 to 48 rooms) at 27-31 Pound Street, Kingaroy (ie. extend the current ROOM Motel Kingaroy East into the area currently containing the former Pound Street Industrial area.)

• Combined application for material change of use – shopping centre, reconfiguring a lot (1 lot into 2 lots) and operational works (earthworks) at 1 Pound Street, Kingaroy (ie. the proposed development by Coles Property Group at the former Council depot site in Pound Street.)

* * *

Public notification is expected to begin in January for a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be constructed at 397 Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road, Kingaroy (ie. the Kingaroy Solar Farm).

* * *

The group behind this year’s “Rabbits Eat Lettuce” music event at Stonelands has applied for a material change of use for a music and arts festival and associated camping at Stonelands Road, Stonelands.

The Council was told the group would be holding its 2026 festival in the Goondiwindi area but was hoping to shift back to Stonelands in 2027 and beyond.

Council has sought more information about the proposal.

  Blackbutt, Bunya Mountains, Council, Kingaroy, Murgon, Stonelands, Wondai