Chair of the Merriwa Community Portal project, Kim Fenley said he was delighted with the end result.

“The committee are to be commended for supplying the information in record time.

“We had allowed six to nine months to get the project to final launch stage, but with the energy and enthusiasm of the committee it only took three months which is quite remarkable.”

Mr Fenley said the new website was community driven with a wide range of information for tourists and locals, as well as people wanting to learn more about the area in general.

“The Upper Hunter Shire Council gave us seed funding to get the project off the ground, but the committee ran with the concept and have created something very unique to Merriwa.”

The community portal concept was the ‘brainchild’ of Murrurundi based portal project coordinator Rodney Swansborough. 

 “A portal is like a ‘house’ that provides the framework for the website,” he said.

“The community can then ‘furnish’ the ‘house’ any way they choose with their own information, advertisements and photos. 

“It is completely self-funded through advertising and can be updated by various user groups instantly. 

“The concept worked so well in Murrurundi  two years ago, we approached council to roll out the portal in other towns.

“Merriwa is now our second portal with more sites to come from Aberdeen and Scone,” Mr Swansborough said.

Upper Hunter Shire mayor Michael Johnsen said the council ‘didn’t hesitate’ to support the project with seed funding and hopes more towns across the shire will be inspired to follow in Merriwa and Murrurundi’s footsteps.

 To take a look at the new website log onto www.merriwa.nsw.au