Safer community trust making progress

The newly formed Taupo Safer Community Trust met with a committee of Taupo District councillors yesterday to provide an update on the Trust’s progress.

Chairman Gareth Green said the Trust had met a number of times since its first informal meeting in early October and has been dealing initially with administration matters involved in forming a trust.

The meetings have been attended by guests such as Mayor Rick Cooper, Taupo District Council’s Community Projects Officer Doug Scott, and Val Hoogerbrugge JP who was involved in a previous safer community organisation. The guests provided their views on where the Trust should be focusing its attention.

The Trust will have a specific focus on safety promotion and crime prevention in Taupo - a topic which has become a priority for Taupo residents since the murder of Karen Aim in January. The Trust will work closely with community organisations encouraging them to work together more efficiently.

Mr Green says the Trust is currently investigating the effectiveness of existing CCTV camera locations in Taupo’s central business district and exploring funding options for more cameras.

The Trust’s next meeting is in January 2009.