WHILE the Town of Bassendean has received a $20,343 state government grant to install CCTV at the intersection of Old Perth Road and Parker Street, community concerns remain.

As reported in Bassendean residents petition for safer street, 34 businesses signed a petition in March to urge council to install CCTV along the length of Old Perth Road and improve lighting to address rising crime.

Town of Bassendean’s chief executive officer Cameron Woods said the grant will fund one CCTV camera, which is expected to be operational by the end of September.

“The grant-funded camera will provide targeted coverage at this location and will form part of the town’s broader community safety strategy and CCTV plan, which was approved by council on June 23,” he said.

“The CCTV plan will guide future decisions about additional cameras, including potential locations along Old Perth Road and other areas of the town, and sits within a more coordinated approach to community safety.”

Mr Woods said the town recognises community safety is a shared responsibility and its role includes improving the design, maintenance and activation of public spaces, delivering regulatory and community services, and working with key partners including WA Police, community organisations and residents.

“This includes existing initiatives such as street lighting improvements, graffiti removal, public open space maintenance, ranger and environmental health services, community education, the CCTV rebate scheme, Safe Active Streets and road safety work with Main Roads WA,” he said.

“The town will continue to consider practical and achievable safety measures that support the plan’s focus on reducing antisocial behaviour, improving perceptions of safety and creating welcoming public spaces.”

Creator of the petition and long-time Bassendean resident Manuel Sammut said the town should be doing more to protect residents’ safety.

“This doesn’t feel like a win for the community. It’s one camera – people are going to look at it and move their trouble elsewhere in the road,” he said.

“The lighting hasn’t improved either – when you come in the evening there aren’t enough lights and it’s quite dark.

“We need cameras all throughout the Old Perth Road. They are installing the camera in a good spot, but we need more of them.”

While the town already operates CCTV to monitor its own facilities along Old Perth Road, it currently has no operational cameras monitoring Old Perth Road itself.