Bathurst Regional Council has slammed Dubbo Regional Council's use of body cameras to help issue on the spot fines for water restriction breaches, labelling the idea as nothing more than a "revenue raiser".
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Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields said he would not comment on Bathurst's issues so "Bathurst should keep their noses out of Dubbo's business."
Bathurst's council says its residents are getting the water restriction message through a system of issuing reminder letters to people since the introduction of extreme restrictions.
Dubbo Regional Council is no longer issuing people who have breached level four water restrictions with a warning and is fining people $220.
Bathurst Mayor Bobby Bourke said Dubbo's method of on the spot fines was over the top and that reminders and warnings ensured people were aware of their responsibilities before it came to the point of fines.
"I don't think we have to have it, water restrictions, as a revenue raiser," he said.
Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields took umbrage to the suggestion the council was using water restrictions as a revenue raiser.
"These body cameras that were issued to our rangers are not just about fining people and water restrictions; they are for our ranger's safety full stop," he said.
"Very few fines for water restriction breaches have been issued yet and I can assure Dubbo residents it is not about revenue raising.
"The body cameras have very little to do with water at the moment anyway.
"They are for the entire range of duties our rangers do in the day to day work, stock issues, animals, all of their duties.
"I make no apologies for looking out for the safety of our rangers and if Bathurst sees fit not to have the best protection for their staff as possible, that is Bathurst's issue."
On the introduction of body cameras, Bathurst councillor Alex Christian said their use, while undoubtedly helpful in proving an offence, was a case of "overkill under the circumstances".
Dubbo Regional Council has said the cameras would be used by its six rangers to gather evidence of water restriction breaches.
Council chief executive officer Michael McMahon said if fines weren't paid and the issue went to court, the footage would prove the wrongdoing.
Dubbo Ranger Rob Dario said he believed the cameras would be good for both the rangers and the community.