Re: Cameras cause delay — Councillors push for immediate start of Grey St trial, August 1 story.
“The Streets for People project aims to turn Grey St into what is classified as an ‘activities street’, which would allow for slow traffic and street art, and enable increased cycling and walking.”
Let’s go forward to the end of the trial from a theoretical perspective. If it is considered to meet its objectives, due to its immense cost over a small area, it must surely be a one-off. If it is considered not to have met its objectives, it would seem far too expensive to restore and will fulfil the expectations of those who consider it a waste of money that could better be used elsewhere.
Does anyone look at the general situation of our financial position either locally or nationally and decide a bit of belt-tightening is in order? It would appear not.
Ideology seems to be the driver and this appears to be pursued with zeal and in isolation.
I find the bold talk of “we hear you” et cetera hard to stomach.
Surely this can be added to the lengthening list of costly projects of doubtful use we have seen over the years?
Ron Taylor
2 comments
It's enough to make one wonder if the whole Grey St project is actually a trojan horse to bring in AI cameras.
Welcome to our new high tech and high debt future.
At this present time when our council is already about $150m in debt one has to wonder about their spending priorities.
Why do we suddenly require high tech surveillance 24/7?
The short answer is that we don't.
Where will it end?
This is no longer an operator just physically going through hours of grainy footage looking for an incident. There is zero need for a CCTV camera on the road at all, not one, and there is much more to the story than reading information - exactly what information? Because it's going to include everything and that is going to the suppliers and hence onwards. We will never know.
But again, what exactly is the purpose? Because they are surely not telling us, just a vague "Monitor the performance of the street”.
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