Public safety features in new Community Amenities grants
Public safety was a feature of two grants announced this month for the first round of applications from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust’s Community Amenities Fund. Grant applications to this fund, which supports largely Council initiatives that provide a significant benefit to the wider community, are now considered by the trustees each May and November as part of the Trust’s new strategic plan. In the current financial year, the Community Amenities Fund has a total grant pool of $400,000.
Opotiki District Council received $23,670 towards providing a 24-hour power supply to the poles where CCTV cameras are located in the Opotiki CBD.
Opotiki District Council Finance and Corporate Services Manager Bevan Gray says that for some time Police and shop owners have been asking for improvements to CCTV coverage, in a bid to prevent crime and vandalism.
Mr Gray says improved CBD security and safety isn’t the only positive outcome of the CCTV upgrade. “The new power supply system to the poles will also enable Council to provide free wifi for visitors and also form the backbone of a high speed wireless network to the community, which is currently struggling with slow internet speed.”
Opotiki District Council received a further $12,106.75 towards the upgrade of the power supply for the Opotiki Showgrounds.
Opotiki District Council Community Facilities Manager Mike Houghton says the showground is used regularly for a range of community and sporting events and the grant will be used to install a new power distribution pillar to replace the current power supply which is unreliable and unsafe.
The Eastern Bay Energy Trust approved grants totalling almost $78,000 from the Community Amenities and Community Development Funds at its May meeting:
Opotiki District Council (total of $35,776.75) for power supply upgrades to the CCTV cameras in the CBD and the Showgrounds.
Opotiki Volunteer Fire Brigade, on behalf of all Eastern Bay of Plenty Volunteer Fire Brigades, ($42,156.64) towards emergency scene lighting equipment.