National Park Residents Learn How They Can Make Low Cost, Reliable, High Speed Broadband a Reality

National Park residents and businesses turned out to hear how their township could have access to high speed broadband at a presentation at The Park hotel on Wednesday.

The presentation was organised by Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron following from a similar presentation given in Ohakune last year.

Mayor Cameron said that access to cheap, reliable, high speed broadband is critical to the future well-being and sustainability of Ruapehu communities.

“The lack of high speed broadband access to many parts of Ruapehu has been identified as one of the significant constraints limiting the district’s economic potential,” he said.

“There is clear evidence that the lack of good quality, reliable broadband in National Park is affecting the township economically through things such as lost bookings for accommodation and tourism activities.”

“Low cost, reliable, high speed broadband is critical to enabling National Park and other Ruapehu communities to fully participate and flourish in the modern world and take advantage of all the opportunities it offers.”

Mayor Cameron said that because of the importance of the internet and broadband technology to Ruapehu’s future potential Council was taking the lead in facilitating discussions between solution providers and local communities.”

“Ruapehu communities have proven time and again that they can work successfully on major projects and getting a township wide broadband solution installed is no different,” he said.

“Ohakune raised $1 million for an ambulance station whereas the game changing, township wide, high speed broadband network solution presented to them last year was only around $300,000 which is very achievable.”

Mayor Cameron added that because of the importance of having low cost, reliable, high speed broadband solution available wherever it is wanted across the district Council would continue to take the lead in facilitating discussions about how to get things moving.

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