Taylor responds to NBN ‘delay’

FEDERAL member for Hume Angus Taylor has responded to concerns about the delay in Yass’ connection to the National Broadband Network (NBN), saying not every town in Hume could be first in line.

He said the NBN Co website map would show when fast broadband was rolled out at Yass and Murrumbateman within the next 12 to 18 months.

NBN fixed line building preparation at the new housing development, Hamilton Rise, was already under way, as shown on the NBN Co website map.

Mr Taylor said not every town centre could be first cab off the rank, but fast broadband was on its way to the Yass Valley.

“There’s a lot happening currently around Young and Cowra and a huge amount of activity to take off in the next 12 months in many areas of Hume,” he said.

“Yass township will receive a rollout of optic Fibre To The Node (FTTN) allowing 2400 premises (businesses and households) to connect to fast broadband.

“In addition, 800 premises in Murrumbateman will receive FTTN.

“NBN Co is also finalising the design and planning of four fixed wireless towers around Yass, Binalong and Bowning and further towers at Murrumbateman.”

He said it was unclear at this point where those exact locations would be, but it’s expected the towers will connect a further 1100 premises across Yass Valley to fast broadband.

“There will not be much activity on the NBN Co website around Yass until the work has actually started on the ground.

“This was an undertaking made by the Minister for Communications, so that people are not being misled about project starting times, as they were under the Labor Government.

“As fixed wireless towers are built by the end of this year, large areas surrounding Yass, Bowning and Binalong will go live on the maps.”

He said a new housing development, Hamilton Rise, where NBN fixed line building preparation was underway, was all that was showing currently on the NBN Co map around Yass.

Mr Taylor said the latest update on the NBN rollout for Hume was that 27,470 premises would have access to fast broadband in the next 18 months.

“Hume has done particularly well, in terms of prioritisation. The average rollout per electorate is 4,000 premises, so Hume has done very well indeed,” Mr Taylor said.

Read a related Scoop opinion article here.