In March, a council survey found 72 per cent of the Kiama community supported the installation of CCTV.

The project had already received $130,000 from the NSW government and the council, with the federal government committing a further $150,000 in the next financial year.

The challenge of making the 20 stand-alone cameras blend in with the picturesque Kiama streetscape has also been raised.

Kiama council's manager of community and cultural development Nick Guggisberg said the council did not want the cameras to have a negative impact on the streetscape, but at the same time the visual presence of the cameras needed to act as a deterrent.

The council is investigating the styles of poles and cameras used in other places, including heritage areas such as the City of Westminster in London.

The cameras, which will have footage broadcast live through to the Lake Illawarra Police Area Command, will be installed along sections of Manning Street, Terralong Street and Railway Parade.

Mr Guggisberg said the cameras would be linked to Kiama council's wide-area network which was now being installed.

The fibre network will connect council properties in central Kiama, including the council administration building, Kiama Pavilion, the council works depot in Belvedere Street, the library, the youth centre and the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre.

It is hoped the new WAN will lead to the creation of a free Wi-Fi network in Kiama's CBD, linked to the National Broadband Network.