WIFI in Post Office Lane is on the cards to encourage tourists and professionals to use the thoroughfare, in a bid to rid the place of antisocial behaviour.
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The plan will cost $103,000 and while there is no money in this year’s budget, councillor Reg Kidd says it will be up and running within two years.
However, there was no time frame mentioned in the report that came before Orange City Council on Thursday night, which detailed costs of $3300 for a stage, $2000 for a WiFi hotspot, $6400 for fairy lights and $7980 for catenary lights.
“It’ll be lit up light Lunar Park,” Cr Kidd said at Thursday’s meeting.
Crime prevention committee member Gavin Hillier said the plan was a gamble as to whether is would discourage or encourage antisocial behaviour in the area, but a gamble worth taking.
“They might hang around more often if they don’t have jobs and are bored and can access free Wi-Fi but it will be really good for businesspeople passing through the area,” he said.
“It might encourage them to stop and grab a coffee and check emails on a lunch break.”
Mr Hillier said the technology would bring Orange into line with other centres where residents could access free Wi-Fi in the central business district.
“A great place for it to be would be the new Civic Centre precinct when it gets up and running. There’s plenty of grassed places there to sit down and use the internet,” he said.
The report detailed that the greatest benefit of the plan would not be realised until the “totality of the works” were completed and said improved street furniture would provide more comfortable options for a casual coffee or quiet lunch with friends.
Cr Kidd said the plan was to allow for pop up shops down the track.
“Let’s not forget the elderly who walk through there to get to the restrooms at the back of the carpark there, it will be a lot nicer for them,” he said.
Cr Kidd said eventually, with enough repetition, people would get the message the areas was smoke free.
Council has worked closely with the Orange Regional Conservatorium to recognise the potential of the space as a performance area for musicians, the report says.
A sound system will be installed and will pipe music into the space which is “well documented to encourage a positive behaviour balance from users of a space.”
Whether it discourages people from lighting up a cigarette, swearing and intimidating others or not, Mr Hillier is glad to have somewhere to get connected while he is out and about.
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au
