LIGHT Regional Council will be building upon its use of smart technology in Kapunda’s main street precinct with the installation of parking sensors.

On-street parking data will be collected in Main Street over a 12-month period, making use of the recent installation of a LoRaWAN Gateway, which enables a low-power, wide area network for connecting Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

According to council, the gateway will allow it to deploy a range of sensors, such as parking sensors, to capture data and better manage services through informed and evidence-based decision making.

“With the opening of the new Foodland supermarket, parking behaviours are expected to change and this technology will help analyse peak times and precincts where on-street parking could be better managed,” a council statement read.

“The project may also identify under-utilised parking spaces that could be converted to caravan/RV/trailer parking spaces to encourage growth in the visitor economy.”

A free public WiFi service ‘Kapunda Free WiFi’ has already been introduced and covers the entire Main Street, Town Square and Hill Street areas up to the Kapunda Museum, while the Town Square also features device charging ports.

LRC Mayor Bill O’Brien said Light Regional Council is excited to be entering the “Smart Cities” realm, with a view to learning how other towns and rural areas might be best served in the future.

“Council is also exploring how the use and availability of this technology and data could support better engagement and learning with our community, businesses, and research partners,” Mr O’Brien said.

The latest technology install follows the Kapunda Town Square development’s success at last year’s Main Street SA Awards.

The development won both the award for Public Space and Streetscape Design and the award for Best Regional Mainstreet (equal winner with Uraidla).

In November, council received the award for Best Planning Ideas (Small Project) by the Planning Institute of Australia SA.