The council has applied to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's ultra-fast broadband fund of up to $210million and rural broadband fund of $100million to improve internet services to Maheno, Weston, Pukeuri and Hampden.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the district's economy was dominated by manufacturing and agriculture and the council wanted to expand the benefits of ultra-fast broadband to areas which had those industries and employees.
In the case of Pukeuri, that included Alliance Group's meat processing plant while Maheno, Weston and Hampden were in the area of the North Otago Irrigation Company's scheme, particularly its expansion.
The expanded scheme would continue to bring real economic benefits to the townships, district and New Zealand.
Improved connectivity and broadband in those four areas would further build on the benefits already gained from irrigation.
''Internet speeds in these areas are woefully inadequate ... '' Mr Kircher said.
This was a barrier to economic growth and created a divide between Oamaru's central business district and productive rural area.
''Ultra-fast broadband is essential to facilitating growth for the region and New Zealand,'' he said.
