Making Broadband Happen in Regional Victoria

Media release - 28 June 2006

Access to broadband in the Pyrenees/Northern Grampians will be much more affordable thanks to a Bracks Government investment, Minister for Information & Communication Technology, Ms Marsha Thomson, said today.

Ms Thomson said the $1 million Pyrenees/Grampians Customer Access Network (CAN) Demonstration Project has delivered broadband access to local businesses and households.

"Working in partnership with telecommunications company OmniConnect we have been able to upgrade services in a number of towns and to businesses in the Pyrenees and Northern Grampians.

"This is one of five projects through which business opportunities have grown in regional Victorian towns through having better broadband.

"Government funding for OmniConnect, has boosted Stawell, Avoca, St Arnaud, Moonambel and Beaufort, as well as for out of town residents and businesses around Ballarat and Halls Gap.

"If we had not taken action and provided funding these towns may still be reliant on outmoded dial-up internet technology."

"Although telecommunications is a federal responsibility, the Bracks Government believes Victorians shouldn't have to wait to reap the benefits that broadband provides, so we are doing what we can to make broadband happen in regional areas.

"Last year's Australian Local Government Association State of the Regions report estimated extending broadband to regional areas could create up to 10,000 jobs and benefit Australia by $920 million a year - our initiatives will help achieve this.

Ms Thomson joined OmniConnect CEO Peter Hutton on a tour of local OmniConnect client Mount Avoca winery, and was impressed with the results being achieved through the CAN Demonstration Projects.

"Businesses like Mount Avoca are capitalising on OmniConnect broadband - using it to operate more efficiently, market internationally and export globally.

"The Bracks Government has committed a further $6 million to the Loddon Mallee and Grampians region, seeking expressions of interest for grant funding to provide affordable next generation broadband as part of its regional Victoria policy: Moving Forward," she said.

For more information about this and other ways the Victorian Government is Making Broadband Happen, visit the Broadband Access Office website.