Security cameras could be installed on Balclutha's main street before the end of the year.
Pleas from police and petty vandalism of road works barriers during the town's $3.2million main street upgrade have pushed the matter forward.
With expensive components to the upgrade set to go in soon, there was some ''urgency'' in setting up closed-circuit television cameras, the Clutha District Council's chief executive Steve Hill said.
''With the main street upgrade progressing as it has, there are some concerns that given the level of investment we've put in the streetscape we would really like to be on top of vandalism.''
The council would be asked to approve a $70,000 budget for the cameras at tomorrow's council meeting - before prioritising the rest of the so-called ''Stage 2'' work on the upgrade.
During the main street upgrade's budget discussions some items seen as desirable for the upgrade - including CCTV cameras - were deferred.
However, during its long-term plan deliberations in May the council approved a $600,000 additional Stage 2 budget, including the cameras - bumping up the budget to $3.2million.
Clutha Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie raised the issue of prioritising the cameras at a public forum at the council's August meeting.
They could act as a deterrent and footage could be used as evidence in criminal cases, he said.
''They are certainly a good crime-fighting tool and they are being used in a lot of other towns around the Southern district,'' he said this week.
He would like to see the Balclutha cameras linked to the Dunedin command centre, where they could be monitored ''24/7'', but that would take some work.
They could be monitored in Balclutha in the meantime.
Queenstown, Wanaka, Invercargill and Gore were all monitored at the command centre.
Council district assets manager Jules Witt said the remainder of the Stage 2 work could be approved before the end of the year.
Making the decision on CCTV cameras before the other additional work would ensure the council ''would have a chance of getting something in not too long after the main street upgrade'', which is scheduled to be completed in late November.
The $70,000 was a ball park figure, expected to pay for four fixed cameras and one portable camera and the connection to a police station where the feeds would be monitored.
''If we do get confirmed funding, it'll be what are we going to get for the money and where can we provide the coverage?''
