By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG councillor Rod Macdonald’s criticism of the coalition’s NBN plan as “massive short-sightedness” has angered Liberal candidate Sarah Henderson.
Cr Rod Macdonald said the coalition plan for a fibre-to-the node system instead of extending cable to homes and businesses was a 20th Century solution in the 21st Century.
“Fibre to the node is a totally unacceptable decision, it’s a travesty, and it can’t happen. It’s a huge mistake even thinking about fibre to the node,” he said.
“Such a system would last five years at the most. It’s so limited it wouldn’t work and they’d have to start all over again.”
Cr Macdonald said Geelong suburbs sheduled for NBN roll outs would still receive fibre to the premises even under a change of federal government.
Cr Macdonald said contracts under a 2016 roll-out schedule, to be announced soon, would also be honoured.
The Independent reported two weeks ago that 174 homes at Armstrong Creek were connected to the NBN, with construction to connect 12,000 premises across 18 suburbs starting in June.
Ms Henderson said councillors should advocate for all Geelong to receive an NBN connection instead of supporting a digital divide.
She had “profound concerns” the roll-out divided Geelong in half.
“I’m disappointed about Cr Macdonald’s remarks. He’s not advocating for all of Geelong to receive the NBN.
“I’d like to see council call on NBN Co to stop the divide because it’s damaging to the local economy.
“The coalition is delivering to all Australians. We’re not discriminating against Geelong’s southern suburbs and 90,000 people in Corangamite.
“We don’t know when the other half of Geelong will receive the NBN under the current roll-out. It could be three years, it could be five years or it could be more. Under our system everyone will receive fast broadband by 2016.”
Ms Henderson said the Coalition plan would still deliver fibre to 20 per cent of premises and cover areas of need, such as mobile phone black spots.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott told a Geelong forum last week that the coalition’s NBN would be cheaper and quicker to build without restricting internet access.
