With the first stage of what will be the site of the new Maroochydore City Centre set to open tomorrow (Saturday, August 10), community members will be able to experience the eventual look and feel of this future city via their smart devices.
The Sunshine Coast Council app has been transformed into a portal to the future, allowing users to see how the new city centre will look both above and below the ground.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson is encouraging residents to come along to People's Day and experience this innovative technology first-hand.
"With the touch of a button and swipe of a screen you can open council's app and take a virtual guided walk which allows you to see how the site will look in the years to come," Mayor Jamieson said.
"The design concept of the yet to be built city hall will come to life on the screen, as will Australia's first high-tech, underground automated waste collection system.
"This interactive visitor experience is automatically activated when you use the app in the city centre thanks to high-tech beacons located throughout the streets.
"This technology is available when visiting the city centre and will be accessible to people wanting to explore the area via the app from the comfort of their own home."
Another tech savvy feature will be the four new digital kiosks available for use in the city centre from Saturday.
"These highly interactive touchscreen kiosks are amongst the first of their kind to be provided by a council in Australia," Mayor Jamieson said.
"They offer a variety of council and government applications, providing a truly personalised experience for users wanting information on everything from public transport to upcoming community events."
Smart City Technology to be implemented in the new Maroochydore City Centre
• A high-speed, high-quality fibre optic network is being built into the new Maroochydore City Centre's underground infrastructure
• The network will allow free Smart City Wi-Fi throughout the city centre's 'public realm' – streets, parks and plazas
• Digital kiosks will provide live travel information to citizens
• Energy-saving LED lights have been installed throughout the site
• Unitywater has installed an on-site water recycling plant to achieve environmental sustainability results
• 100% green power for public facilities – council's solar farm completely offsets council power needs, including in the Maroochydore City Centre
• The smart irrigation system, using a combination of weather station, associated sensors and flow metres, will also be deployed across the site to help maintain public parkland and reduce weed growth while minimising water usage and costs.
