THE South Windsor shops will receive the CCTV they have long awaited thanks to $250,000 from the federal government.
Josephine Dunstan from Angel’s Florist, one of the businesses at the shops, said the CCTV was long overdue.
“I want it mainly for the safety of people,” she said.
“I leave all my lights on all night. I stay open until 7pm in summer but I won't do it by myself so I have to pay staff to stay with me.”
Ms Dunstan said many of the shopkeepers wanted the CCTV as a deterrent to the petty crime that happens around the shops.
“We've had lots of graffiti, and that is why I leave my lights on now,” she said.
“They scratch the glass, you can't fix that and you have to replace that. People have been beaten up. There is road rage in the middle of the roundabout [in front of her shop].”
Ms Dunstan said she hoped the CCTV would encourage businesses to stay open later, while also acting as an incentive for new businesses to open in South Windsor.
Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said it was great to see the shops receive CCTV coverage.
“This is the first step in helping police to take action if things happen, that becomes a deterrent and it makes it a safer, more stable environment for shop owners,” she said.
“There is nothing worse than coming back to your shop after the weekend off and seeing damage and it happened to my dad's business years ago.
“There are a lot of pensioners who live around here and this is the place they can walk to and shop and they need to do it with a sense of security.”
The CCTV was something both Ms Templeman and for Member for Macquarie Louise Markus pledged during the recent federal election campaign.
