Council & Politics
17 July, 2026
CCTV push reaches Opposition Leader
A campaign for public CCTV cameras in Stawell has reached the state’s alternative government, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson hearing directly from local advocates during a quick visit on Monday evening.
Ms Wilson joined Member for Lowan Emma Kealy and Victorian Nationals leader Danny O’Brien at the Stawell Skate Park as part of her regional Fresh Start tour, where Northern Grampians Shire mayor Karen Hyslop and deputy mayor Justine Hide were also among those gathered.
In cold, wet conditions and fading light, much of Ms Wilson’s time at the skate park was dominated by discussion of the push for CCTV in Stawell.
Members of the group of local mothers behind the campaign outlined their case for cameras in the town’s CBD and other public areas, having previously identified Main Street, Stawell Railway Station and the skate park as priority locations.
One of the mothers spoke about her family’s own experiences, including her child being robbed at the skate park.
Ms Wilson said the concerns she heard in Stawell reflected a wider issue across Victoria.
“It sounds, from chatting to the local mums here and to council, that there’s a concern around youth crime and growing levels of crime more broadly in the area,” she said.
“To be honest, it’s a common theme wherever I go.”
Ms Wilson said a Coalition government would seek to recruit 3000 additional police officers and reopen more than 40 police stations she said had closed or had their hours reduced.
She also pointed to the Coalition’s proposed changes to bail and youth justice laws.
Asked whether Stawell’s crime concerns were specifically youth-related, Ms Wilson returned to the experience shared with her at the skate park.
“A local mum here has said that her son was the victim of theft here at the skate park, and that’s obviously had a massive toll on her and her family,” she said.
“But this is an issue right across the state. It’s not isolated to here in Stawell.”
Ms Wilson said CCTV was an issue raised in other communities and could serve both as a deterrent and a source of evidence for police following an offence.
“It sounds like the local community is broadly in favour of CCTV in various parts, and that’s an option for the council,” she said.
The visit came less than a month after Northern Grampians Shire Council publicly responded to calls for CCTV.
Cr Hyslop said at the time council was aware of community concerns about vandalism, theft and people feeling unsafe, including at the Stawell and St Arnaud skate parks.
However, council said CCTV had not been identified as a priority through its recent community consultation and warned that installation and ongoing maintenance across crime hotspots could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Council has instead favoured crime prevention through environmental design, while leaving the door open to reconsidering CCTV if a formal request was made and community priorities changed.
Asked on Monday whether council had given her the impression it would reconsider its position, Ms Wilson declined to speak on its behalf.
“They’re here, they’re listening, like I am,” she said.
“They’re certainly understanding of the concern and appreciative of the consultation work that has been done.”
The Opposition Leader was also pressed on long-awaited major road projects in the region following the Coalition’s announcement earlier in the day of a $5 billion road repair and rebuilding package.
Asked whether a future Coalition government would commit to an Ararat bypass and completing duplication of the Western Highway through to Stawell, Ms Wilson said both projects were on the Coalition’s radar.
“We’re working through those projects,” she said.
Ms Wilson instead turned to the newly announced package, which she said would repair and rebuild roads and eliminate one million potholes across Victoria.
“I’ve been driving over regional roads, whether it’s here in the Grampians area, whether it’s in the south-west, whether it’s northern Victoria over the last few weeks,” she said.
"Incredibly dangerous roads, you’re dodging potholes, craters in the middle of the road.”
Ms Wilson said the condition of Victoria’s roads was also adding to cost-of-living pressures, with motorists left paying for repairs after striking potholes.
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