North Perth Council has decided not to further pursue a public wifi project for the downtowns in the municipality.
Community Development Coordinator, Kim Kowch, says after a thorough process, it was determined that the cost of implementing such a project was considerably higher than initially expected.
"As well as looking at the many priorities and areas that council is looking at investing, they just felt they wanted to consider and pursue those further before starting another project."
Kowch says one area council is focusing on is the new facade improvement program that will be introduced this year, aimed at helping local businesses improve the face of their business for shoppers. She notes that North Perth Council wanted to invest in the downtowns in a meaningful way this year despite walking back interest on the public wifi project.
Another potential reason for the walk back on the downtown wifi project is of course, COVID-19, and Kowch feels the COVID-19 pandemic likely diminished the need for public wifi when recovery is going to be a big challenge on the horizon.
"So that I think would have been a consideration, in addition to ensuring that where money is invested is meeting the needs coming out of the pandemic and recovery for businesses and our residents. So I definitely think it would have played a part in this decision."
North Perth Council will instead turn budget dollars towards other more immediate needs and projects, like the new facade improvement program. 2021 North Perth Budget Chair Dave Johnston says the facade improvement program will give a needed boost to businesses that have been through a lot in the last calendar year.
“I think it gives businesses that boost, it gives our businesses a little shot in the arm. It says ‘Yea, we’re behind you, we’re with you,’ let’s carry on with getting some improvements here and keep people shopping local.”
Council will also be focused on erecting a memorial on the site of the old Listowel Memorial Arena, which is currently being torn down, to continue to honour the victims of the 1959 arena roof collapse tragedy.
