Ipswich City Council keen to embrace national broadband network
24 May 2010
IPSWICH City Council is working to ensure that Ipswich is among the
first cities in Australia to receive the rollout of a high-speed
broadband service through the planned National Broadband Network.
Planning and Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully
said the Federal Government was delivering the eight-year National
Broadband Network program which would involve the laying of fibre
optic cables to up to 93 per cent of Australia's population.
"This project will cover almost all properties in urban areas in
Ipswich," he said.
Cr Tully said Ipswich City Council had joined with the Toowoomba,
Lockyer Valley and Somerset regional councils to ensure that the
project was delivered to these regions as quickly as possible.
"We are keen to see the area reaping the benefits of this project as
quickly as possible and will be highlighting to the Federal Government
why we believe this should occur," he said.
"Council would like to see an accelerated rollout of the program
within the western corridor to provide vital communications technology
to support future growth in the region."
Cr Tully said the national broadband network program would soon have
an impact on planning provisions throughout Australia, including
Ipswich.
"Pit and pipe technology will be required in developments where other
utilities are being provided such as reticulated electricity, water
and sewerage with fibre lines to be required in developments of 200 or
more lots."
The proposed legal start date for the program is July 1 this year if
the legislation is passed by parliament.
"These requirements would then apply to all developments from that date."
