According to the announcement
made by the Government of Victoria, they are investing A$1.2 million in order
to extend the free public Wi-Fi network beyond the central business district in
the Shepparton region.
This initiative will boost the region’s visitor economy
as well as enhance digital inclusion in the usual places where groups of people
gather together.
The Victoria Government is partnering with
the City of Greater Shepparton in order to extend the free public Wi-Fi network
beyond the central business district.
The government will be investing A$1.2
million for this project that will connect more residents, visitors and
businesses in the Shepparton region.
Extending the reach of public Wi-Fi will
help increase the region’s visitor economy and enhance digital inclusion
because this will allow people to connect to the internet in the places where
they gather together such as education precincts; Neighbourhood Houses or local
organisations that provide social, educational, and recreational activities for
their communities; Youth Spots or places where the youth are able to enjoy,
play and socialise; parks and reserves.
The Victoria Government will work with the
City of Greater Shepparton to determine which locations will be included in the
pilot.
New Wi-Fi pilots are being delivered to two
location as part of the A$45 million Connecting Regional Communities Program of
the Labor Government. Shepparton is one while the other is Geelong.
Both projects build on Victoria’s existing
free public Wi-Fi pilots in the Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat central
business districts which have been used over 23 million times since being
launched in September 2016.
Work to extend Shepparton’s free public
Wi-Fi network is expected to start in the second half of 2018 and be completed
in the second half of 2019.
One of the initiatives of the Labor
Government in order to improve digital connectivity across regional Victoria is
the extension of the Shepparton free public Wi-Fi network.
Another initiative would be the development
of the region’s Digital Plan, which is due to be finalised later this year. For
this project, the Labor Government is working closely with the Goulburn
Regional Partnership and the wider community.
Minister for Innovation and the Digital
Economy Philip Dalidakis said, “As one of the state’s largest
regional centres, Shepparton deserves to have access to free world-class
Wi-Fi.”
He added, “This is a strong investment in
Shepparton’s digital economy. It will enhance connectivity for residents,
businesses and visitors.”
Minister for Regional Development
Jaala Pulford said, “We’re investing in digital connectivity improvements here
in the Shepparton region to create opportunities beyond the town centre that
will help this area to grow and thrive.”
She added, “Labor is delivering the
connectivity that residents and businesses in Shepparton deserve, breaking down
the digital divide, and helping make greater Shepparton a great place to live,
work and do business.”
Member for Northern Victoria Region Mark
Gepp said, “We have shown time and time again that we support connectivity in regional
Victoria. This investment will ensure more people in the Shepparton area have
the connectivity they need and deserve.”
