Media Release

Construction commenced for another 165,000 premises as  NBN rollout ramps up

Minister  for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy,  today said that the rollout of the National Broadband Network is forging ahead  with construction commencing for approximately 165,800 homes and businesses around  the country.

Maps  have been released for 40 areas covering an estimated:

 
• 44,700  homes and businesses in New South Wales
 
• 31,200  homes and businesses in Queensland
 
• 27,600  homes and businesses in Victoria
 
• 27,100  homes and businesses in Western Australia
 
• 18,000  homes and businesses in South Australia
 
• 8,900  homes and businesses in Tasmania
 
• 8,300  homes and businesses in the Northern Territory

“The  release of these maps shows that the NBN rollout is ramping up across Australia,  with NBN Co on track to meet its target of having construction commenced or  completed for 758,000 homes and businesses by the end of the year.

“People  who live or do business in these areas will be able to connect to the fast,  reliable and affordable broadband provided by the NBN in around 12 months.

“NBN  construction activity is happening in every state and territory in Australia,  including in South Penrith, Carlton, Prospect, Nudgee, Gungahlin, Darwin, and Meadow  Springs.

“Over  24,000 Australians are already using the NBN, across all three of its  technologies.

“The NBN is here and it is happening now.

“The only threat to the NBN’s fast, affordable and reliable broadband is the  Coalition, whose leader Tony Abbott says that the NBN is ‘an investment we  don’t need.’[i]

“The choice for Australians is simple: support Labor and you’ll get the NBN;  support the Coalition and you won’t.”

Date: 15  October 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457

New maps have  been issued for the following areas:

New South Wales: Blacktown  (Seven Hills); Coffs Harbour (Sapphire Beach, Korora); Dapto (Dapto,  Brownsville, Koonawarra, Kanahooka); Gosford (North Gosford, Gosford, West  Gosford, Narara); Homebush (Homebush West); Mudgee (Mudgee); Penrith (South  Penrith, Jamisontown); Richmond (Londonderry Hobartville, Richmond, Richmond  Lowlands, Agnes Banks); Taree (Taree, Taree Tinonee); Wollongong (Wollongong).

Queensland: Ascot  (Hamilton, Hendra, Ascot, Eagle Farm, Pinkenba); Cairns (Cairns North, Cairns  City); Goodna (Redbank Plains); Kallangur and Petrie (Kurwongbah, Petrie,  Kallangur); Mackay (South Mackay, East Mackay); Nudgee (Northgate, Virginia,  Banyo, Nundah); Townsville (Railway Estate, Hermit Park); Toowoomba (Redwood,  Withcott, East Toowoomba, Rangeville).

Victoria: Ballarat  (Invermay, Invermay Park, Ballarat North); Creswick (Creswick); Carlton  (Carlton, Melbourne); Melton (Melton, Melton West, Kurunjang, Melton South;  South Morang (Mill Park); Tullamarine (Essendon Fields, Airport West, Melbourne  Airport, Tullamarine, Keilor Park).

Western  Australia: Applecross (Brentwood, Mount Pleasant, Booragoon); Geraldton (Mount Tarcoola,  Tarcoola Beach, West End, Mahomets Flats); Mandurah (Greenfields, Coodanup,  Furnissdale, Barragup); Meadow Springs (San Remo, Madora Bay,  Singleton, Golden Bay); South Perth  (Kensington, South Perth, Como); Victoria Park (Kewdale, Lathlain, Carlisle);  Yunderup (South Yunderup, North Yunderup).

South Australia: Prospect  (Kilburn, Prospect, Blair Athol, Collinswood, Enfield, Nailsworth, Sefton Park,  Broadview); Port Augusta (Wami Kata, Port Augusta, Stirling North, Port Augusta  West); Port Elliot (Victor Harbor); Yankalilla (Normanville, Yankalilla,  Carrickalinga).

Tasmania: Bellerive (Rose  Bay, Lindisfarne, Bellerive Mornington, Mount Rumney, Warrane, Lindisfarne);  Kingston (Kingston, Bonnet Hill); Launceston (Trevallyn, Riverside).

Northern Territory: Casuarina (Malak, Marrara, Moil,  Anula); Darwin (Larrakeyah, Darwin City, Fannie Bay, Parap, The Gardens, East  Point).