Nationals promise CCTV for Tweed Heads if elected
UPDATED, 3.49pm: In response to the following story, Richmond MP Justine Elliot has urged Tweed MP Geoff Provest to increase police numbers.
"The best thing that Matthew Fraser can do to help lower crime is to get his National Party mate Geoff Provest to deliver more permanent police for Tweed," Mrs Elliot said.
"The police numbers today are the same as they were in 2009, yet the number of people living in Tweed has increased.
"The fact is that Geoff Provest has failed to deliver on his own 2009 promise to get 59 extra police for Tweed," Mrs Elliot said.
INITIAL REPORT: TWEED small business owner Shirley Manwaring doesn't feel safe in her store and hopes the installation of CCTV in the Tweed will get rid of her fears of being robbed.
Today, National Party politicians Senator Fiona Nash and Tweed councillor Phil Youngblutt joined candidate Matthew Fraser on his daily rounds to meet residents and the trio spoke to Mrs Manwaring.
Mrs Manwaring, who owns and runs Shirley's Dress Material Shop in Bay St, Tweed Heads, said she was alone in her store most times as were many of her fellow store owners and was anxious about a lack of assistance.
"There have been a couple of robberies over the last few years, however, I'm more concerned about the overall situation.
Reader poll
Does Tweed Heads need CCTV?
This poll ended on 10 December 2012.
Current Results
Yes
31%
No
68%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
"My friends worry about me," Mrs Manwaring said.
Mr Fraser said he approached Senator Nash because while door-knocking businesses in the Tweed, people expressed their desire to feel safer and wanted protection from vandalism and graffiti.
"I approached Fiona because Murwillumbah and Kingscliff shop owners told me she had secured CCTV for those towns under the previous coalition federal government," Mr Fraser said.
Senator Nash said it was disappointing the Labor government had abolished the program and a new coalition government would bring in a new Safer Streets grants initiative, which would include CCTV for Tweed Heads.
Cr Youngblutt welcomed the initiative and said the CCTV systems in Murwillumbah and Kingscliff managed by the council were responsible for reducing petty crimes as well as shopkeepers' insurance premiums.
