Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says it should have informed the Wānaka Skate Club about a CCTV camera being relocated closer to the skate park.

The local skate club raised concerns about the camera on social media earlier this week after a pole for a CCTV camera was installed near the park.

Skate club member Ollie Burke said the club was aware the nearby toilets have been vandalised but said: “those who use the park do not poop in their own nest”.

Ollie asked why money was being spent on surveillance rather than safety, adding the club would prefer money to be spent on protecting the skate bowl with lights and fencing to prevent people from falling into it.

QLDC confirmed the newly installed camera is actually an existing camera which has been moved to a slightly different site .

“We absolutely don’t have a programme of surveillance and keeping an eye on residents,” deputy mayor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App.

He acknowledged however that council “could have done better at keeping the community and [Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board] up to speed around these decisions”.

“That would have reduced angst.” 

The camera at the skate park has been relocated from the Dungarvon carpark entrance.

Quentin said the council and board are happy to look into lighting and fencing for the skate bowl. 

“We encourage the skate club to engage with police and council around continuing to ensure that the skate park is a safe and fun place for all ages. They do a great job and it’s a great facility and long may this continue.”

QLDC spokesperson Sam White told the Wānaka App a CCTV camera was installed several years ago at the entrance to Dungarvon St car park overlooking a corner of Pembroke Park including the public toilets and skate park. 

“We are in the process of moving this camera to obtain a clearer view of the wider area; it is not solely directed at users of the skate park,” he said.

“The rationale remains the same, namely crime prevention and identification of potential offenders; there have been issues in the past relating to theft and drug use in this area.”

There are at least 20 council CCTV cameras in the Wānaka area, including at the skate park, the Lake Bar, Post Office Lane, HQ Bar, Night n Day Wānaka, the police station, Wānaka Library, the lakeside public toilets, and the corner of Helwick and Brownston Streets. 

There are two cameras near the Doughbin, three at Wānaka Hotel, and five at the Wānaka marina. 

Camera locations are shown on this webpage along with the council’s CCTV policy.

The policy states that areas where cameras are installed “will be clearly signposted to notify the public that a camera is or may be in operation”, with large enough signs to alert people to the cameras before they are close enough to be filmed.

The installation of a camera at the Albert Town bridge by council contractor Cougar Security in January also sparked speculation. The council told the Wānaka App it was to monitor river use and would also inform a review of the QLDC Navigation Safety Bylaw 2018.

Read more: Bridge camera to gather data on river use

“It’s important to highlight that while these cameras are owned by QLDC, NZ Police has access to our monitoring system to help with their investigations as required,” Sam said.

“We do not use CCTV as a substitute for any regulatory activity but it can be a helpful tool assisting with a range of council’s regulatory and enforcement responsibilities. These include checking compliance on waterways (and with other bylaws), car parking and – in conjunction with the police – crime prevention.”

PHOTOS: Wānaka App