What were the temporary cameras for?

I wandered out and took some photos of one, including the VERY large sticker on the box that said that it was definitely not a traffic control device, but was for traffic survey purposes.

The sticker had some website and the contact details of a company based in north sydney to contact. Trafficnet.com.au? It was traffic-something. I didn’t upload the photo, forgot.

The roads around the airport are also being prepared for major roadworks (in the picture linked by SheepGroper you can even see where the trees have been cut down in preparation).

Maybe just maybe they are part of a cheaper dumbed down Tropfest for next year.

There are quite a few cameras strapped to poles/signs around Pialligo that I noticed today.
1: Pialligo Ave in between the main Airport roundabout and the next one (Beltana Rd). On BOTH sides of the road and a camera pointing in both directions on each side of the road!
2: Beltana Rd just near the intersection with Pialligo Ave. On BOTH sides of the road and a camera pointing in both directions on each side of the road!
3: Majura Rd between Pialligo Ave and first Brand Depot roundabout. On BOTH sides of the road and a camera pointing in both directions on each side of the road!
4: Monaro Hwy heading north just near Molongolo River Water Ski area just before roundabout. Not sure if it’s both sides or just one.

Are the mystery cameras like a small grey one above a larger silver one strapped to a light pole in front of SnowTown today. There were two silver suitcase sized boxes underneath with vents.

I don’t know which cameras you are talking about, but the police have been setting up cameras for vehicle recognition over the past few weeks.

A few weeks ago, you would see an unmarked or marked police car with a small camera mounted on a tripod on the ground next to the road. A few hundred meters up the road there would be a bunch of cops pulling select people over.

My understanding is that they are testing technology where a camera monitors every car that goes past, reads the number plate, and alerts officers to stolen or unregistered cars, or if the car or driver has been involved in something illegal in the past.

In the UK they have a system with cameras (everywhere) that monitors the number plate, its make and model, and indentifies the driver in an instant. It would then contact or fine the owner if it has been found that the car was involved in something illegal, like the number plate not matching the car type, aswell as for speeding (they would just take note of when you passed point A and B and figure out how fast you are going).
A mate was driving his mother’s car in England, and she received a letter saying that an unknown driver was driving her car and whether they should take action for car theft.

They were about 20ft high up a pole that was held in place with common packing tape. The cameras didnt look quality in fact they looked like cheap home security units. Yes on the big silver box. Rubber tubes have been in place for some time on these roads so not sure why the duplication and why for only 2 days. I suspect its for roadworks but hope its CIA or extra terestrial related.

It’s not about a Murrumbateman road, I saw one hanging off a sign just after you pass the airport heading into Canberra. It had a silver box under it. I imagine it was filming how long the traffic jam took to dissipate…. there’s no way you’d catch speeders on that bit!

I assumed they were to do with the Murrumbateman Bypass (which I didn’t realise had been mooted cause I’ve seen the surveyors out on the highway marking stuff out) and working out traffic volume AND behaviour at the intersections of roads coming off the highway.

I use McIntosh cct intersection and there has been a number of accidents and near misses at that intersection recently, and some talk about it in the Yass Tribune because its realy hard to turn right from McIntosh onto the highway cause the traffic is doing 100kms.

Either way, I hope that it has something to do with the bypass – will make travelling to and from town much easier.

Who knows what they’re for? One thing’s for sure, you can bet it’ll involve us putting our hands in our pockets again…