Victoria’s Alpine Shire Council is inviting the community to provide feedback on a new draft Surveillance Technology Policy, which is now on public exhibition for four weeks.
The Council says the policy provides a clear framework for all surveillance activities, supporting staff to meet statutory obligations while protecting individuals’ privacy.
It also replaces the existing CCTV Policy and Body Worn Camera Policy, which were reviewed in early 2026.
The new policy covers a wider range of technologies Council uses as part of its everyday operations, including CCTV, body worn cameras, tourism and promotional cameras, asset inspection cameras such as drones, location tracking tools, and other recording devices.
Mayor, Sarah Nicholas said the draft policy was about improving transparency, consistency and community confidence.
“This policy is designed to clearly explain how and why Council uses surveillance technology, and to make sure it is always done lawfully, responsibly and with proper oversight,” she said.
“We want our community to understand what is being used, what is not allowed, and how privacy is protected.
“This exhibition period is an opportunity for people to read the draft Policy and provide any feedback or suggestions they may have prior to adoption.”
The policy sets out how Council will comply with Victorian privacy and surveillance laws, including the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
Importantly, the policy does not allow the use of artificial intelligence or facial recognition technology.
Key features of the draft policy include:
- One overarching policy for all Council surveillance activities;
- Clear rules for when an activity is considered surveillance;
- Strong privacy and data protection safeguards;
- A new internal Surveillance Oversight Committee to oversee all surveillance activities;
- A central register of approved surveillance devices; and,
- Clear pathways for community enquiries or complaints.
If adopted, the policy will include a one‑year transition period to review and align existing surveillance devices with the new standards.
The draft Surveillance Technology Policy was informed by feedback from Victoria Police and Council departments and is now available for community review.
All submissions received during the exhibition period will be considered before the policy is presented to Council for adoption.
Submissions on the draft policy will close on Wednesday, 27 May.
