Marrickville coy over free Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi hotspot areas are yet to be introduced for the Marrickville municipality despite being among the first in Sydney to consider them for trial.
The stance has been maintained after public Wi-Fi trials were launched last year at parks, pools and other public spaces. Leichhardt and Waverley Councils have announced both trials will continue into 2013.
A report to Marrickville Council in September 2011 proposed free Wi-Fi in major parks including Camperdown Park, Johnson Park, Marrickville Park and Tempe Reserve. A further report was to be provided to Council on free Wi-Fi access. Council voted to support this motion.
A Marrickville Council spokesperson said free wireless internet access at parks is still being considered.
But no results from the report have been announced, despite more than a year having passed. More recently, a trial location has been proposed for King St, which borders Marrickville and City of Sydney.
In August last year, the Greens proposed a technology similar to one rolled out in the Netherlands. The “Zonspots” are small, open air, solar-powered desks with a three-petal shaped shelter on top. Desks have free Wi-Fi and power to plug-in laptops.
City of Sydney Councillor, Irene Doutney supports the proposal.
“We have such patchy Wi-Fi in the city area. We need something that’s freely out there,” she said.
Ms Doutney also supports the idea of green advertising on the desks.
Leichhardt and Waverley Councils have announced both trials will continue into 2013.
In 2012, Leichardt Council rolled out free public Wi-Fi trials in several locations, including the Leichhardt Aquatic Centre and several public parks.
A Leichhardt Council spokesperson said the aquatic centre is one of the most popular locations for use of the free Wi-Fi.
Aquatic Centre employee Deborah Patterson said free Wi-Fi is of particular benefit for students.
“There are kids that come and use it after school. They do their homework before and after swimming lessons,” she said.
“Parents also use it when waiting for their kids to finish squad lessons. Around 4,000 school kids attend lessons at the pool each week.”
Botany Bay Council will also increase their public Wi-Fi facilities this year.
“Free Wi-Fi is planned for introduction in both libraries this year as part of a wider upgrade to our library services,” Mayor Ben Keneally said.
In Waverley, a free all-hours public service at Bondi Beach was also launched late last year. It is sponsored by local internet business, Universal Network Technologies, which plans to offset the expense through advertising. There are also three trials planned to launch in mid-2013 at High Cross Park in Randwick and at either Coogee or Clovelly Beach, at a total cost of around $125,000.
