Mayor calls for City of Greater Geraldton to consider installing CCTV cameras along Beresford foreshore

The City’s mayor is urging council to consider installing a CCTV camera network along the Beresford foreshore in the wake of four alleged indecent assaults on women walking in the area.

In a report to his fellow councillors to be voted on Tuesday night, Mayor Shane Van Styn the recent serial incidents were “just awful and in co-operation with all of the State agencies we need to do everything we can to make Geraldton a place where we all feel safe”.

He said the CEO should investigate setting up a CCTV network along this precinct and report back to council.

Police are investigating four separate reports from women who say they were indecently touched by a man riding a bicycle along the popular Chapman Road foreshore in recent weeks.

In Mr Van Styn’s motion, he conceded CCTV cameras were expensive to install and maintain and as time passes, these networks were becoming less effective as a deterrent to antisocial behaviour.

But Mr Van Styn said the City was already sourcing estimated costs to extend fibre along the foreshore up to the Horizon Ball location. The council is already planning to and seeking quotes to install a camera at the location where the Horizon Ball sculpture used to be before it exploded late last year after it was weakened by vandalism attacks.

“We could add a further service provision for extended CCTV coverage of this precinct as part of sourcing costs,” Mr Van Styn wrote. “Currently, $30,000 has been allocated in the budget for CCTV coverage of the Horizon Ball location.”

The alleged indecent assaults occurred on June 11 in Bluff Point and July 12 and July 15 along the Beresford foreshore. Detectives said they believe the same person is responsible for all incidents, and say the man is between 18-25 years old with a dark complexion and was riding a dark-coloured bicycle.

In his report, Mr Van Styn said the council had worked hard to make the Beresford foreshore a “special place ... (an) inviting, funky and special (area) for all to enjoy.”

“Incidents such as this have the potential to ruin it for everyone,” he said.

“The City’s infrastructure has not been immune to vandalism in this area. The most notable example being the repeated vandalism and ultimate destruction of the City’s public art piece known as ‘The Horizon’.”

But Mr Van Styn said broadening CCTV coverage on the foreshore came with installation challenges such as strong winds, glare from the ocean and other challenges.

“There are always demands to expand our network, and sometimes it’s a very expensive process,” he said.

He said the reported indecent assaults were concerning for the community.

“It doesn’t reflect well in our great community,” he said.

“We still encourage everyone to be actively on the lookout for this behaviour and report any suspicious activity to police.”

The Guardian spoke to foreshore users over the weekend about whether they still felt safe along this trail. A cyclist who frequents the Beresford foreshore said the recent assaults were a deterrent for women who would usually enjoy taking a walk along the foreshore.

“It’s disturbing, people would feel scared to go walking by themselves,” she said.

Another woman said she would still venture our on a daily walk despite hearing of the recent attacks.

“I just think I’m still going to have a walk and just be a bit more vigilant. It’s deterred me a little bit, but I just don’t come out as early,” she said.

Another woman said she did not feel safe walking in Geraldton alone.

“I wouldn’t walk anywhere in Geraldton by myself. Geraldton doesn’t have a very good record for women,” she said.

Geraldton Detectives First Class Const. Jake Williams said police were continuing patrols along the Beresford foreshore.

“There is an operation under way in the area,” he said.

“There are high-visibility patrols and officers are completing on foot patrols.”

First Class Const. Williams said there would be a combination of high visibility patrols while other patrols would be undercover.

No arrests had been made at the time of publication.