THE first steps have been taken to kick-start Mildura and Wentworth’s case for quick access to the National Broadband Network.
Preliminary talks were held this week between representatives from Mildura Rural City and Wentworth Shire councils, Mildura Development Corporation, SuniTAFE, La Trobe University, Lower Murray Water, local schools, and health and welfare advocates.
There has been a Mildura representative on the NBN 4 Bendigo group but that organisation’s central aim has always been to push Bendigo rather than the rest of northern Victoria
Regional areas believe they will be able to attract more business to their area if they are able to beat their rivals and jump the as yet unknown queue for the NBN.
The visit of broadband expert Paul Budde to the region late last month has been the catalyst for the NBN push.
The fibre-optic network promises 10 times faster internet speeds.
A spokesman for the NBN Company said that while Mildura would have access to the NBN at some time within the 10-year timeframe of the $35.9 billion fibre-optic rollout, the decision has not yet been made.
The NBN will connect 93 per cent of homes, schools and businesses to a high-speed fibre network capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second.
All remaining premises will be served by a combination of next-generation fixed wireless and satellite technologies providing peak speeds of 12 megabits per second.
A spokesman said indicative coverage maps published by NBN Co suggest Mildura is likely to be served by the fibre to the premises network.
NBN Co has also indicated it will release a three-year indicative rollout schedule next year and Mildura and Wentworth are now working to get onto that list.
The NBN is expected to be completed by 2020.
Mildura has already been part of the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program, chiefly directed at building a fibre-optic link to Broken Hill and costing $70.7 million.
Talks were held locally this week to develop an action plan and digital economy strategy for the Mildura-Wentworth region.
Mildura Development Corporation director Jenny Grigg said the meeting was the first step in tackling an issue critical to the region’s economy and communities.
“Access to broadband infrastructure will improve our ability to grow and attract businesses and investment; it is vital for the health and education sectors and will help improve community inclusiveness,” Mrs Grigg said.
Mildura Mayor John Arnold said the organisation was committed to doing all it can to move the region further up the NBN rollout list.
“Working together collectively as a region is the best chance we have at getting NBN Co to reconsider when we receive access to broadband infrastructure,” Cr Arnold said.
Wentworth Mayor Marg Thomson said the NBN rollout must happen in this region as soon as possible.
“With it we will have a competitive edge to attract business and people, without it we will lose opportunities to other regions.
“The rollout will give our youth an equal footing with our city cousins,” she said.
This article appeared in Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 03/12/2011.
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