11 June 2016
Major towns on Tasmania’s West Coast will receive superfast broadband over fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) technology or the fixed wireless network following an $18.5 million commitment announced today.
Brett Whiteley, Liberal Member for Braddon together with the Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Federal Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield, announced the ‘Technology Choice’ plan which will replace the current Satellite rollout to more than 2,700 West Coast premises.
A re-elected Turnbull Liberal Team will deliver FTTN to Queenstown, Rosebery and Zeehan, and Fixed Wireless to Strahan.
Mr Whiteley welcomed the change in technology and said he had listened to and worked with these major towns along the West Coast to ensure that the technology mix was the best fit.
“The West Coast region is a strong economic performer and this plan will ensure it continues to attract new investment to help create jobs and growth for the region,” Mr Whiteley said.
“The community spoke, I have listened and I will deliver this necessary project.”
Mr Rockliff said a FTTN and fixed wireless rollout would give certainty to residents and businesses that rely heavily on the internet.
“The $4.5 million of in-kind support provided by the Hodgman Government further demonstrates its commitment to the West Coast community,” Mr Rockliff said.
The Tasmanian Government’s support will be delivered through making the existing unused TasNetworks’ fibre optic cable available to the NBN under a lease model at no cost over a suitable long-term period.
Federal Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield said the Coalition’s management of the nbn will see the network completed six to eight years sooner nationwide than under Labor’s plan and at around $30 billion less cost.
“Labor’s approach to the nbn will see Tasmanian families and small businesses pay more and wait longer,” Minister Fifield said.
The Turnbull Liberal team is committed to fixing the NBN mess that Labor left, to ensure all Tasmanians get superfast broadband much sooner and more affordably.
Key components of the Turnbull plan to deliver FTTN and Fixed Wireless to the West Coast:
· Our $18.5 million plan is fully costed and fully funded. It includes Federal funding and access to an existing state-owned fibre link. This is in stark contrast to Labor’s plan for the area that is unfunded and uncosted.
· Our plan will use the NBN ‘Technology Choice’ programme, an existing programme which allows interested parties to apply for a change to their NBN technology by contributing to the difference in cost.
· The nbn construction resources currently working on north coast towns are expected to move to the west coast around mid-next year, following completion of detailed design work.
· The Turnbull Government’s plan is clear and provides certainty to the West Coast. Labor’s plan fails to specify what technology it would use and leaves Strahan off the map.