Jules Radich, a DCC councillor, spoke to the club about the new camera which is to be installed at Taieri Mouth to help monitor the changing bar and make it a safer place for boaties. The web camera will take a photo every 15 minutes. The public will have free access and be able to see a line feed and also the last 24 hours.
The web cam has 30x optical zoom. This model is used by police around the country. The cost is $15k and the camera will be owned and managed by Dunedin Marine Search and Rescue. There will be a live action view available online.
Stage 1 ($20K) involves mounting the camera on a house in Taieri Mouth. Stage 2 ($50K) will involve mounting the camera further up the hill on a pole on road reserve. This will give a better view over the bar. The camera runs on mains power and uses a satellite signal.
Taieri Mouth has been the number one site for rescues in the Otago area. The Waitaki River Mouth also has a camera although not as powerful a model. Bull Creek also has a camera.
A website is being set up and it will be advertised at the boat ramp. Live view, history and weather forecast info will be available through the website.
A Give-a-Little campaign has been set up to help create the funding for this project - https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/taieri-mouth-bar-camera-project
It is great to see the community working together to make our region a safer place.
Thanks to Jules for presenting to the club - we wish him all the best in this endeavour.