Coast leads broadband revolution

Sunshine Coast Regional Council welcomes the federal government’s announcement to provide access to affordable fast broadband for every house, school and business in Australia through a National Broadband Network.

Council’s division 12 and economic development and council entrepreneurship portfolio holder Cr Lew Brennan said this initiative reinforces the work of Council’s long-running Connecting the Coast project.

“Today’s decision by the federal government is exciting as it aligns seamlessly with the aims of Connecting the Coast and its clever networks projects,” Cr Brennan said.

“Council is already on the front foot in helping to deliver this level of service across the Sunshine Coast.

“In October last year, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy visited Cooroy in the Noosa Hinterland to formally ‘switch on’ Australia’s first successfully completed clever network broadband project.

“We are well in advance of the requirement for all local governments to have the optic fibre capability embedded in their master plans by July 2010.

“Sunshine Coast Council has already included the requirement in the Sippy Downs Master Plan as well as in the draft Palmview and Maroochydore structure plans.

Established in 2007, Connecting the Coast is a high speed broadband project funded by the Australian Federal Government, Sunshine Coast Regional Council and project partners the University of the Sunshine Coast, Allegro Networks and Mach Technology.

“The partnership was formed to help ensure the region’s long term economic future,” Cr Brennan said.

“Connecting the Coast has developed more reliable and efficient telecommunications infrastructure that better supports local business and innovation on the Sunshine Coast.

“The combination of wireless and fibre optic cable provides network security, with the capability to reach over half of the Sunshine Coast population and around 38,500 businesses in the region.”

On 26 July 2008, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan officially cut the first metres of trench for the Coast’s first optic fibre cable.

Construction of the region’s wireless, optic fibre and data centre is now complete and operations have commenced.

ENDS

Media enquiries:

Cr Lew Brennan, Phone 5449 5420 / 0412 399 357

Michael Whereat, Principal Economic Development Officer – Telecommunications. Phone 5441 8481/0439 750 107

Hayley Martin/Adriane Seaborn, Corporate Communication. Phone 5441 8234 / 5449 5148.