Moree Plains Shire Council has agreed to shore up security at the Moree Water Treatment Depot and install CCTV cameras at the premises in a bid to tamp down on the number of trespassers.
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It was argued that an enhanced CCTV system at the Broadwater Water Depot would reduce the incidences of crime and break-ins, reduce attendant insurance claims and premiums from damage to the facility and provide better evidence to police as they identified the offenders.
It has been revealed that break-ins at the Sewer and Water Depot occurred approximately twice at each site and each year between 2015 to 2018.
The incidents have not only caused damages to the facility, but proven a financial burden.
Two break-ins during 2015 at the Sewer Treatment Plant caused the plant to claim close to $10,000 in damages, which left council to fit a $4,000 bill.
Further break-ins during December 2017 and April 2018 at the plant saw padlocks cut to the telemetry, a roller door damaged, and a quad bike stolen.
A break-in during September 2016 and April 2017 at the Broadwater Water Depot left the Telecommunications Dish vandalised, bullet holes and break in damage to roller doors.
Then in May 2018, a trespasser used a ladder to bypass the security cover of the walkway up the reservoir only to be stopped at the second padlocked cover.
A CCTV system was installed at the site around the time, and the footage has helped to provide vital information to the police. The investigation is ongoing.
