FREE public wi-fi is to be made available throughout the Bathurst CBD – but Big Brother will be watching.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst Regional Council has been granted $152,000 under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program to install a free wi-fi network stretching from Durham to Piper streets and Rankin to Seymour streets.
The government grant will pay half the project cost with council to tip in $152,000 as well.
A report to councillors by environmental, planning and building services director Neil Southorn said the project’s second rollout phase would see it extended to George Park, Victoria Park, Bicentennial Park and Centennial Park.
But council will also be using the free wi-fi, due to be operational in late 2018, to track public movements around the CBD.
Mr Southorn’s report says part of the grant money will be put towards the purchase of data analytics software to analyse “device user movements” through these wi-fi zones.
“Through this project council will, for the first time, use smart data analytics technology to collect, securely store and process data on device owner movements through the wi-fi zones,” the report states.
“The opportunity to produce reports evidencing device owner movements through the CBD and green space areas will be a new service council will extend to council departments, local businesses and community, supporting economic development activities, asset management and planning services by council.”
Mr Southorn said data analytics systems had previously been used for short periods during major events on Mount Panorama.