An enthusiastic crowd including Maldon & District Community Bank chair Ron Snep and Councillor Michael Redden gathered at Dig Cafe for the launch of the Newstead Community Website and free local wireless network.
Development of the 2 projects was led by Dave Hall for Newstead 2021 see Newstead become central Victoria's most connected town. Members of the community are managing the site through an editorial team.
The website funded by Maldon & District Community Bank is an exciting new project which allows community groups, businesses and services to maintain their own content on the website allowing them to keep the community up to date. "Everyone in town can be a webmaster", says Dave Hall. Councillor Michael Redden commented that, "Both aspects involved in this launch are visionary. The internet access will be of real value to locals and visitors alike. For example I can imagine people attending Newstead Live in January making heavy use of this facility. We are setting new standards for the Shire in terms of connecting to the outside world. The Newstead website is a very exciting development. It will allow community groups to provide their own promotional materials and will connect us to other websites such as that of the Mount Alexander Shire. In a short time, it will become a trend-setting site and draw much attention to our town."
The free internet access will complement the community website . The new infrastructure will see free wireless internet available at several key locations in the town for residents and visitors who have their own computers. The free wireless internet will be available at the Newstead RTC and locations in Lyons St from the butchers to the bridge. For those with their own laptops the internet at the RTC can be accessed for free, use of the RTC's internet cafe still requires an access fee.
Mt Alexander Shire Council community grants program funded the equipment for the wireless service while Internode is providing free internet connections. Without the support of these organisations this project would not have got off the ground.
So keep an eye on the website at newstead.vic.au to keep up to date.
If your local business or community group isn't on the site please send us your details.
