Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed the National Broadband Network will be connected to Dapto and Wollongong in the next stage of the roll-out.Ms Gillard said the suburbs would be among 28 locations next in line for the roll-out, which will cover 485,000 premises.In Wollongong, 5600 homes will be connected and a further 5300 homes in Dapto.It is expected to take about a year from the start of the roll-out - which will begin over the next 12 months - for homes to receive high-speed broadband.
MAP: Check out where the NBN is already under construction, and where will be getting it next LIVE BLOG of PM's visit here PHOTO GALLERY: Julia Gillard in the Illawarra MERCURY SAYS: Fast-tracking NBN equals opportunity‘‘It’s about transforming our economy and literally brings the world to your door,’’ she said.‘‘It’s good news for the long-term economic future here.’’Ms Gillard said the NBN roll-out in Wollongong would create 500 jobs at the peak of construction and support increased jobs in the region once it was complete.‘‘The NBN Co does look to source people locally,’’ she said.Ms Gillard also confirmed that an additional $25.5 million would go to making the stalled Maldon to Dombarton freight rail link ‘‘shovel ready’’.Ms Gillard acknowledged the long wait for action on the Maldon-Dombarton rail link and said the latest investment was the next logical step on the way to construction.Ms Gillard made the NBN announcement at the University of Wollongong. The NBN will give a considerable boost to the region’s emerging technological sector fuelled by the information and communication graduates from the university.As the fibre optic network spreads across the Illawarra, homes will have access to internet more than a 100 times faster than the existing speeds in some cases. The network uses fibre optic cables - vastly superior to the existing copper wire network - which it is hoped will lead to the creation of ‘‘garage businesses’’ able to sell their wares to international clients.It also holds the potential to revolutionise health care, enabling doctors to diagnose and monitor patients remotely from great distances.The network will be laid progressively across the Wollongong area, via a series of nodes, connecting directly to homes and businesses.Member for Throsby Stephen Jones, who has been lobbying for the roll-out of the network, said the NBN would help transform the area. ‘‘What the NBN would mean is that the Illawarra has the capacity to become a major information and communications (ICT) hub,’’ he said.‘‘We already produce the most ICT graduates, we would also have the infrastructure to support a world-class industry.’’The funds dedicated to the freight rail link will pay for detailed engineering design plans, a ‘‘realistic’’ construction timetable and new cost estimates.The news does not represent the green light that proponents of the project were hoping for, but instead will make the project ‘‘shovel ready’’ if it is eventually approved. The total cost of the project, if approved, has been estimated at $550million and would involve the laying of 35km of track. If approved, the rail-link would connect the existing main Southern line directly to Port Kembla via Dombarton.The final decision, however, rests with Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese together with his statutory authority Infrastructure Australia.
