By PETER DOUGLAS
WITHIN the next three years, the Dandenong Ranges will be in line with the rest of the nation after NBN Co. finally announced dates for its planned roll-out for the region.
Though, those champing at the bit for superfast broadband may need to cool their heels slightly, with the Belgrave area in particular needing to wait until the middle of 2018.
A new list of locations scheduled to receive NBN over the next three years was announced on Friday 16 October, with the Federal Government proposing a mix of technologies, including Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks.
First in line for the Hills area will be Ferntree Gully, Lysterfield and Upper Ferntree Gully, with an estimated 4220 premises set to receive NBN access from July to December next year.
Next will be Avonsleigh, Clematis, Cockatoo, Emerald, Gembrook and Kallista, with an estimated 4360 premises in these areas set for access throughout January to March in 2017.
However, in what will be a more than two-year wait, an estimated 7100 premises will gain access in the townships of Belgrave, Ferny Creek, Tecoma and Upway, which is scheduled for roll-out between January to June in 2018.
In more positive news, though, despite the geographical barriers in the Hills, all townships in the region will gain access to the more reliable FTTN, rather than the hybrid technology which relies on coaxial cable.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the new plan was part of the Federal Government’s pledge to roll out the entire network in Australia by 2020.
“I am proud to be a part of the team that is putting La Trobe on the mark for the NBN rollout,” Mr Wood said.
“Adding this to our list of deliveries for La Trobe is a great day for our community.”
Mr Wood said the release of the plan was a huge step forward for the NBN as the company worked to speed up the rollout and make the build as cost-effective as possible.
The new schedule is a coup for Mr Wood and Yarra Ranges Councillor Mike Clarke, who told the Mail in early September they had hoped to arrange a visit to the Hills from then communications minister, and now Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to discuss the rollout of the plan.
Previously, areas around the Dandenong Ranges did not show any works underway and were not included in an 18-month rollout plan.
At the time, both Mr Wood and Cr Clarke expressed concerns over the region’s absence in the plan.
“I believe Malcolm’s visit to the Hills, where he has an opportunity to hear from residents first-hand, will make a difference,” Mr Wood said at the time.
“People in the Hills area should not have to wait 10 years or more for fast broadband.”
When completed, the NBN will not only replacing ageing communications technology, but facilitate superfast broadband service which will deliver speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.
This is almost four times faster than ADSL2+.
