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High speed telecommunications between Elliston and Wudinna to be delivered under the Building Better Regions Program
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Project will receive $1.3 million under the fund’s Infrastructure Projects Stream
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This Coalition Government investment will enable better government and business services to be delivered online
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is extremely pleased with the announcement Elliston will receive high-speed telecommunications services with the support of $1.3m from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Program.
Making the announcement today on a lightening visit to the region, Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the project would provide the infrastructure that will enable a wide range of information services to be delivered online.
“This investment will deliver Elliston the range and consistency of service the vast majority of Australia takes for granted including increasing the reach of high speed internet services across this part of regional South Australia, improving access to education, health and business online services,” Minister Nash said.
“I aim to help build the kinds of regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and ensuring the Elliston region has first rate telecommunication services does just that.”
Mr Ramsey said unreliable landlines and mobile services were at best a severe inconvenience and at worst a danger to public safety. “While home and internet services are being upgraded through the NBN the replacing of the aging micro-wave link addresses core inadequacies in the system.
“The high speed, high capacity communications service between Elliston and Wudinna will soon be a reality with funding confirmed today under the first round of the Coalition Government’s new BBRP – Infrastructure Projects Stream,” he said.
“I am particularly pleased with this announcement which follows extensive meetings I had with the Minister, her department and Telstra searching for a solution to Elliston’s communications issues.”
Mr Ramsey said he had worked closely with Telstra General Manager SA Mark Bolton to find a solution for Elliston. “I thank Telstra for its very strong investment in this project. The State Government is contributing as is the District Council which is also making a very significant contribution. The shared funding model has been instrumental in taking the project to the top of the Building Better Regions funding list.”
“The key design features of the project include the installation of optic fibre, transmission equipment and tower upgrades,” he said.
“This project will radically improve online access to government and business services for Elliston and its surrounding communities.
“The project is being jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing $1.34 million under the BBRF, the South Australian Government contributing $100,000, the District Council of Elliston $80,000 and Telstra $1.04m and significant in-kind support.
“This is the first round of the BBRP, but it follows hot on the heels of the old Stronger Regions scheme under which the Grey electorate has done very well. This latest round lifts the total of Commonwealth funding on these projects to close to $30m and is a clear indication that this electorate is punching above its weight.”
The Coalition Government will provide almost $500 million to priority infrastructure projects over four years from 2016-17, to foster economic growth in rural, regional, and remote communities
More information about the Building Better Regions Fund is available at: business.gov.au