This project will increase public place CCTV across the City of Port Phillip through the installation of new systems in the key retail precincts of Port Melbourne, Balaclava, and South Melbourne. The new systems will complement the existing CCTV network across St Kilda which is currently being renewed by Council. The project will also include the acquisition of a new mobile CCTV trailer to provide short-term surveillance in areas as identified by Victoria Police.

Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) is a law enforcement tool which can also act as a deterrent and assists Victoria Police with incident response and crime management.

The new precincts will be around Carlisle Street (St Kilda/Balaclava), Clarendon/Coventry Streets (South Melbourne) and Bay Street (Port Melbourne).

Council takes seriously the management and maintenance of the public place CCTV network. By design, and in accordance with Council’s Public Place CCTV Policy, the network of public place cameras will link directly back to the St Kilda Police Station and the forthcoming new South Melbourne Police Station. Council officers will not have access.

Footage and images will be stored at the St Kilda Police Station and the forthcoming South Melbourne Police Station for a set period that aligns with Council’s Public Place CCTV Policy. Footage may be accessed by Victoria Police members in accordance with CCTV Policies and the Law.

As with our current CCTV network, Council will oversee the operation of the new systems and rectify any issues that arise as quickly as possible. Any issues that arise, such as from vandalism, power surges, equipment failure, etc. will be addressed as a priority by Council’s contractor. Police will also monitor the cameras daily.

Access to any CCTV footage lies solely with Victoria Police. The privacy of the community is guided by the Privacy Act 1988, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and the Surveillance Devices Act 2004. Cameras are only used for their designated purpose.

Council has a network of fifty cameras across 29 precincts covering Fitzroy Street, Little Grey and Grey streets, St Kilda foreshore and Acland Street. Council is investing in planned renewal of these precincts this year.

In 2022 Council purchased a mobile CCTV trailer to support Victoria Police. A second trailer is being purchased as part of the expansion project grant funding. Police manage and maintain the trailers under a loan agreement. Council and Victoria Police identify priority sites for deployment on a weekly basis. Victoria Police have final say of where the mobile camera trailer is placed.

Council has received a grant of $1.5 million for the expansion project and the purchase of a second mobile CCTV trailer.

This project is being delivered with funding from the Australian Government’s Strengthening Community Safety grant program.

The CCTV Expansion Project is designed as a staged process to ensure all evidence, feasibility, governance and engagement requirements are met before installation begins.

The project involves:

Year 1 - 2026: Research, feasibility and engagement

• Precinct assessments and data gathering (Feb–Apr 2026) Site-based safety audits with Police and Business Associations, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessments, feasibility studies, and initial community information sessions to review local issues.
• Community engagement on proposed locations (Aug–Sept 2026) Testing and refining proposed CCTV locations through place-based walks, in-person sessions, online interactive maps, and targeted outreach.

Year 2 - 2027: Installation

• The rollout will occur in stages across the three precincts. After installing the cameras and infrastructure, we’ll integrate the system with Victoria Police and complete all technical, privacy and quality testing before each camera goes live.

CCTV infrastructure, alongside other initiatives, can serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and help Victoria Police with investigations and increase perceptions of safety.

Council’s approach to safety is underpinned by a strong commitment to crime prevention through environmental design, including the application of CCTV surveillance systems, where appropriate.

Public Place CCTV renewal and expansion are actions in Council’s Community Safety Plan 2025-2029.

Funding public place CCTV systems is a shared responsibility of state and federal government.

Council continues to work with state and federal funding bodies and advocates for future funding for the maintenance and renewal of CCTV systems within its municipality.

Council advocates not only for continued funding of the CCTV system but also on improving safety and reducing crime through creating safe spaces and building community resilience.

We also advocate to the Victorian Government to improve service responses and creating affordable housing via Council’s Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy and the Port Phillip Zero program.

We value our partnership with Victoria Police and the critical work they do in our community – we are an advocate for improved police resourcing to enable greater physical presence and joint patrols in our hot spots.

Law and order are a policing issue and questions about police response times and resourcing should be directed to Victoria Police. Only Victoria Police has the authority to decide where police should be stationed.

Council is planning to install two types of cameras across the three precincts.

1. 360-degree (multisensor) cameras are designed for situational awareness, providing comprehensive coverage of a location and effective monitoring of activity across an area. Depending on the model and site conditions, they can provide general surveillance coverage out to approximately 100–150 m.
2. Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras provide targeted monitoring and can be directed to areas of interest. Their optical zoom capability enables detailed observation and tracking at significantly greater distances, with some models capable of monitoring activity up to 1,000 m or more.

Public Place CCTV design includes using one or both cameras at locations depending on need: 360-degree cameras for broad situational awareness and PTZ cameras for targeted monitoring and incident investigation.

Other types of cameras may be considered in response to specific location criteria.