Security - and safety !

Sydney has no option than to embrace the " Vertical Village " concept.   Residential towers just get taller and bigger as more and more people swap the horrors of the daily commute for inner city living.  Regis Towers - on the edge of the CBD - has 653 units and hence the number of people living in that one building is equal to many a small town.

The rules that apply to these buildings is decided by the Body Corporate and that works in a similar manner to the way we run both the Federal and the state governments.   The buildings owners vote the office holders into office and the general rules that apply are open for discussion at the annual general meetings.  The general tenets of democracy apply.  The majority vote decides issues.

Unfortunately, there always seems to be a few people who disagree and the safety regulations that apply to Regis Towers are upsetting some people.   Access to the building is by way of a swipe card which includes personal ID.   In the event that this card is used by other than the nominated holder, it is deactivated and no longer works.   A fee of $ 150 is required to reactivate the card.

Two issues underpin this security operation.   Requiring each individual actually living in the building to be issued with a personal swipe card allows control of the numbers living in each unit.   Both health and hygiene are involved where excessive crowding occurs and these numbers are legally decided by city ordinances.

Security is becoming an ever bigger issue in our crowded cities.   We like to think that we live in a secure building and that can only be achieved if strict rules apply.   One resident cited an instance where he lent a visiting   friend his ID swipe card to go and buy a bottle of milk.   Not only was the friend denied access - it also cost him $ 150 to regain future access to his own home.   Such is the price of maintaining a security system that works !

The weakest link is the factor that breaks the strongest chain, and the moment ID swipe cards are casually loaned to others - our building security fails.   Perhaps the most effective way to enforce the rules is to apply a hefty money penalty for breaches.    Either the unit owner needs to accompany that friend on a milk  buying journey - or if the stay is to be longer - ensure that he or she is issued with their own ID swipe card.

It is a fact of life that many only obey rules which involve a severe monetary penalty if breached !