Ballarat City Council, Ballarat ICT and leading technology experts have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will begin to roll out the next phase of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Central Ballarat in April next year

Central Ballarat is one of just four Victorian sites that will receive the next phase of the NBN roll out, with 8,900 premises to receive access.  A total of 28 new sites were announced by the Federal Government today.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Craig Fletcher said Council, through its ongoing support for Ballarat ICT had long supported the push to bring broadband to Ballarat and cement its growing reputation as a centre of ICT excellence.

“Council, through Ballarat ICT has always sought to position Ballarat at the forefront of the NBN, to maximise technology and business opportunities afforded by this development.  We put this case in Canberra last week when we met with Senator Conroy’s office”, Cr Fletcher said.

“We have positioned ourselves in an ICT sense, making it known we are ready for the roll out of the NBN and that we have the capacity and the ability, and that Ballarat businesses have embraced the technology which will be enhanced by this roll out.  This is an acknowledgement by the Federal Government that Ballarat businesses are ready to take full advantage of the opportunities and advantages that the NBN brings”.

“This strengthens Ballarat’s role as the regional capital of Western Victoria and will ensure we are in every sense prepared to meet the demands that population growth will bring.  We are on the cusp of 100,000 residents now and that figure is predicted to grow by 30% in the next couple of decades.  The roll out of NBN will help businesses and industry to maximise opportunities which will in turn lead to jobs and improved quality of life”, Cr Fletcher said.

Ballarat ICT Executive Officer Ian Fry said the announcement tied in with the fixed wireless program NBNco was currently rolling out in Ballarat surrounding regions.

“Congratulations to all those that have lobbied tirelessly to get NBN to Ballarat.  This is a huge achievement.  The City of Ballarat, Ballarat ICT and other interested groups have made this a priority; this will enable businesses to use cloud computing more efficiently, to be more efficient in their use of applications and programs, and allow them faster and more efficient access, comparable, if not better than in other parts of the world.

“We are going to have world class communications in Ballarat central.  This will place us at the forefront of world communications”.

Ballarat IT expert, George Fong, Executive Director of Lateral Plains, said the delivery of the NBN to Central Ballarat would have a fundamental impact, giving the city a permanent and durable base on which to build a whole communications structure.

“The opportunities for residents living in the area are significant.  They will be well ahead of game as far as connectivity is concerned.  Even more significantly, it will be an added incentive for people or businesses thinking of coming into the area.  NBN will be an important factor, making it more viable for business and industry”, Mr Fong said.

“Ballarat has been positioned as an ICT centre for very long time; this provides an opportunity for the demand and supply side of the industry to take advantage of what NBN will gives us - a world leading cutting edge in a competitive market.  We’ve now got a situation where companies which require hi speed fibre to perform will be increasingly looking at Ballarat.” 

Ballarat ICT and the City of Ballarat look forward to working with the NBN to ensure a speedy implementation and quick uptake of the services offered by the fibre.