With $350,000 available for such security devices, the council has found the sum would provide barely six or seven cameras, and nothing for ongoing costs. It might have to seek sponsors to help fund them.

The council is yet to make a policy decision to install such cameras, though it budgeted $350,000 this financial year in anticipation of a decision.

In the latest move, the chairwoman of the CCTV committee, Amanda Duncan-Strelec, and senior staff Les Tomich and James Jenkins visited Logan City in Brisbane.

This confirmed what they saw in central Sydney a few weeks ago — that cameras can be beneficial in reducing vandalism, identifying offenders and securing convictions. But they would not stop alcohol-fuelled violence.

Cr Duncan-Strelec said yesterday a paper was being prepared for the CCTV committee.

The committee — that includes hotel and club people, police and the chamber of commerce — would make a recommendation for the council, she said.

“My personal view is that we should do a trial for one year using cameras only at the crisis times on Friday and Saturday nights and into early Sunday morning,” she said.

Both Sydney and Logan councils found the cameras expensive and were footing most of the bill for monitoring.

She said top-quality cameras cost $50,000 to $70,000 each and there was little point in using lower-grade cameras that could not provide proper evidence.

“We could install cameras but I don’t think the ratepayers should be paying for the monitoring as law and order is a state government responsibility,” she said.

“Clubs and pubs could possibly be sponsors and the Roads and Traffic Authority might sponsor cameras for bridges.

“All the people we saw emphasised that cameras require the co-operation of police and that’s working well in Sydney and Logan.”