Council calls for input into Northland's digital future

 

Northlanders are being asked for their help to identify projects for the Northland Digital Enablement Plan and Kaipara District Council is calling on the community to share their input.

“Improved digital infrastructure is one of the most important opportunities open to our region in recent times,” says Chair of Commissioners, John Robertson.

Councils are collaborating with Northland Inc. to prepare a Digital Enablement Plan that identifies priority projects to make the best use of faster and more reliable internet.

“The core of the plan will be ideas generated by the community,” says Northland Inc. CEO David Wilson. “We need help from the community to identify those projects that are a priority for Northland.”

Businesses and members of the community from a wide range of sectors are being asked to complete a short six question survey, and then share the survey with their contacts so they can also share their views. The survey can be found at a dedicated website collaborativenorthland.nz/InspireUs.

In March of this year, the Government launched a digital infrastructure initiative that included funding
for rollout of Ultra Fast Broadband, extended rural broadband coverage and measures to address mobile blackspots.

Northland councils, in partnership with Northland Inc., delivered a Registration of Interest document in July outlining how Northland councils intend to support the rollout of improved digital infrastructure.

The Digital Enablement Plan is the second stage of the process and is an opportunity for Northland to identify priority projects that will drive community and economic development using better internet.

“There's no such thing as a silly idea,” says Wilson. “You never know what might just be the next big thing.”