NEWROC set to build telecommunications network

Businesses and residents in the communities of the North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils (NEWROC) will be the envy of regional communities in Western Australia as they will receive higher speed internet services as a result of a successful Federal grant to build a data centre and 11 repeater towers in the area.

The Shires of Koorda, Mt Marshall, Mukinbudin, Nungarin, Trayning and Wyalkatchem have been working collaboratively to provide an innovative solution that will reduce the cost of internet services, improve reliability and vastly increase upload and download speeds so that residents and businesses can have “super fast internet”

“Our telecommunications solution will add value to the existing NBN service that some residents and businesses receive in the district but more importantly will provide an improved service to those who can’t access the NBN or whose service is currently too slow for their needs, and at a cheaper price” said Cr Eileen O’Connell, Chair of the NEWROC

Each local government in the NEWROC has committed $18,000 towards the solution, with the NEWROC organisation committing over $100,000, Bendigo Bank $2,000 and the Federal Building Better Regions fund committing just over $700,000.

“The vision of the NEWROC is to improve the economic prosperity of each member Shire and we felt very strongly that by providing super-fast internet to our communities it would help them grow their businesses, compete equitably on the national and global stage, capture tourism opportunities and help attract more families to our communities”. Said Cr O’Connell

The internet packages on offer will also assist many emergency service providers, and government departments operating in the district as well as help attract and retain larger industry.

“We know of many agribusinesses that cannot do the simplest of tasks such as pay bills online due to their slow connection. We also know that there are many businesses that would like to use cloud software but can’t because the speed of their upload and downloads lag and the costs are prohibitive.” Said Cr O’Connell

A variety of high speed internet packages will be offered, they are cost effective for both businesses and residents.

The scheme is an opt-in one, meaning people can choose to stay with their current SkyMuster retail service provider or Telstra service but in the planning conducted by the NEWROC, they expect a large number of residents and businesses who are not happy with their current service, or lack of it to signup.

Residents and businesses in the NEWROC will be contacted in the near future with more information and to provide an expression of interest for these packages.

For more information relating to the project please contact Dannelle Foley on 0407 009 257 or foleyadmin@bigpond.com