NBN is on its way!

Published on 05 November 2015

Rockhampton Regional Council has welcomed the commencement of the NBN construction today.

Mayor Margaret Strelow said, "this is vital infrastructure for our local economy and one which Council has put top of our list for our economic health."

Council will shortly release a Draft Strategy for the Digital Economy In our Region for public comment.

However, Mayor Strelow said she marks the commencement of the 'fibre to the node' NBN with a heavy heart. 

"This new version of NBN to be installed in our Region will not provide the speeds already available to other Regions where NBN has already rolled out," she said.

"It will be a dramatic improvement on our current service and we are grateful for that,  but it is a poor cousin to what we really need.

"If I had to choose between 'a sporting and conference centre' and the 'proper' NBN (fibre to the premises - the same one Mackay has), then I would take the full NBN any day!"

Mayor Strelow said that over time the disadvantage would only multiply.

"We will find that not only are we 'behind the eight ball' when we compete with our neighbouring cities, but we will also find our older real estate, both commercial and residential, becoming less and less attractive to buyers who are already feeling the 'need for speed'.

Mayor Strelow added that new developments are already installing 'full fibre' as a standard service.