By PETER CATON

THE Murwillumbah business community is prepared to contribute to the $100,000 needed to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the CBD.

That is according to the proprietor of Murwillumbah Retravision Noel Hession, who has been researching the issue for the Murwillumbah and District Business Chamber.

The chamber is examining a proposal to install 16 cameras in the CBD.

Mr Hession told a chamber breakfast yesterday he had studied similar cameras aimed at reducing crime and vandalism in Redcliffe north of Brisbane.

He has committed to providing a detailed report back to the chamber next month.

Mr Hession said the cameras would help reduce problems in the town "mainly on Friday and Saturday nights".

He said the cost would require support from Tweed Shire Council, but from initial feedback, it seemed "businesses are prepared to put some money in".

Lismore MP Thomas George, whose electorate will include Murwillumbah from the next state election, said CCTV cameras had been very successful in the Lismore CBD.

He told the business breakfast he was happy to an arrange an inspection of the Lismore system.

Inspector in charge of Murwillumbah police Ross Wilkinson, who was appointed to that position as well as assistant commander of the Tweed Byron Local Area Command earlier this year, said businesses could install their own CCTV's.

Inspector Wilkinson said CCTV cameras were just one of a number of simple precautions to reduce crime in the town's business centre.

Speaking to the business breakfast Insp Wilkinson warned Murwillumbah was unlikely to get a 24-hour police station "in the foreseeable future".

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