Gippsland local councils impress with broadband plan

This week, the NBN Co Truck visited the Gippsland region – a beautiful area with rolling hills and expansive farm-land.

We arrived in Wonthaggi to an old-fashioned Rotary sausage sizzle with the former Mayor of Bass Coast flipping the burgers!

In fact, the local councils in the area got us really excited.

They are some of the most engaged and enthusiastic councils about the National Broadband Network build that we’ve met yet!

The attitudes, ideas and aspirations of council members really shape towns, and what makes these councils unique is that they have formed together to develop a terrific Gippsland Broadband Engagement Plan.

East Gippsland Shire, Baw Baw Shire, Wellington Shire, La Trobe Shire and Bass Coast council are working towards “connected communities” in their regions.

Brian Olden, Peter Francis and Jeff Nottle from Bass Coast Council were kind enough to give me a copy of the plan, which is a great insight into what they are doing within their community and their high levels of awareness about the NBN construction process.

Every visitor that comes into the NBN Co Truck wants the NBN to be built as soon as possible, but this group of councils understands that such a large infrastructure build will take years to complete across the country.

However, they’re getting a running start on engaging the community in ways they can get ready and make the most of fast broadband – with the knowledge that these skills will serve them well for decades to come.

They also understand that while the NBN is a platform for starting innovation and community-building, it’s the local entrepreneurs, businesses, school children and councils who will carry the use of it forward.

The councils are actively engaging with members of their communities to train them in using new technology and making everyone more comfortable with the concept of broadband.

Wrapping up the second week in Victoria, we were based in the cultural hub of Brunswick and the rapidly growing area of Mill Park, close to our planned construction site in South Morang.

Brunswick is characterised by the number of Melbournians out jogging and riding their bikes around following the beautiful leafy grounds of Melbourne University, through to the melting pot of cultures on Sydney Road.

In Brunswick, we were visited by Kelvin Thomson, Federal MP for Wills, and John Kavanagh, the Mayor of Moreland City Council.

Mill Park residents were quite proud that National Broadband Network construction was happening nearby.

Two of these residents happened to be the Honourable Harry Jenkins MP, Federal Member for Scullin and also Griff Davis, General Manager of Whittlesea City Council, who were equally interested in the NBN as internet users themselves, as well as representatives of the wider community.  

While the NBN Truck is an educational opportunity for every member of the public such a high level of engagement from local, state and federal governments is great to see. The people that have been entrusted with looking after communities' interests are genuinely interested in how they can embrace technology and best position their municipalities for the future.