By PETER DOUGLAS
A LURE of fibre-to-the-premises NBN to numerous towns within the Dandenong Ranges is being dangled in front of voters.
Before the Saturday, 2 July election, Labor’s La Trobe candidate Simon Curtis has announced his party would direct NBN Co to roll out the fibre-to-the-premises technology to Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Ferny Creek, Kallista, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Selby, Sherbrooke, Tecoma and Upwey.
NBN was confirmed for the region last year, with a delivery date promised in 2017, though there are many who believe the fibre-to-the-node technology proposed will become antiquated quickly.
The detractors have included Rocco Smit from the Mount Evelyn Chamber of Commerce, who told the ‘Mail’ he believed fibre-to-the-premises represented a more efficient option.
“To take fibre-to-the-node, as opposed to the home, is like putting a Formula One engine in a passenger vehicle – yes, you can do it, but it won’t be sensible and it won’t go much faster,” he said.
“The copper wiring will need to be replaced in due course, so they’ll have to double-spend.”
Meanwhile, Mr Curtis said the fast broadband would enhance the local economy.
“That’s why we will roll out fibre-to-the-premises to local communities, and up to two million homes and businesses across the nation,” he said.
Mr Curtis said delivery of the local NBN rollout was long overdue.
“Construction on the Liberals’ second-rate copper NBN hasn’t even started for the Hills, and by all indications won’t start until late next year at the earliest,” he said.
Last year, there had been some concerns over delivery to the NBN to the Dandenong Ranges, with sitting MPs Jason Wood (La Trobe) and Tony Smith (Casey) unable to nominate a timeline back in September last year.
However, the NBN plan for the region was announced in October, with the region included in NBN Co’s three-year rollout plan.
