FREE Wi-Fi hotspots will be installed at three key tourism locations across the city early next year.
Mount Gambier City Council has accepted a quotation from local information technology business TDRS, which will proceed with installation of Wi-Fi hardware at the Blue Lake, Umpherston Sinkhole and The Rail.
City infrastructure general manager of Nick Serle said the initial roll-out of digital infrastructure formed part of council’s broader Connected City Digital Strategy and would allow tourists to access smart phone tourism apps at each location.
“There are a couple of reasons we chose these areas – firstly, a tourism report received earlier this year identified the Blue Lake and Umpherston Sinkhole as our most popular tourist locations,” he said.
“They are the two areas almost all tourists that come to the city visit and we know we will get that exposure – when they log on to the Wi-Fi they will be directed to the Tourism Mount Gambier visitor website.
“Secondly, we own the infrastructure at those areas and at the Railway Lands precinct – as a first step these three areas are easier to deliver from an engineering perspective.”
Installation will cost $30,000 with an ongoing operating cost estimated at $12,000 per year.
TDRS has advised the expected delivery time will be approximately ten weeks from the placement of the order.
