Campaign push for a connected Mountains

Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE) and the Blue Mountains Connected Communities Group (BMCCG) placed the digital connectivity needs of the Blue Mountains high on the national agenda during the face to face  meeting with the minister.

BMEE chairman Donald Luscombe said it was a chance to confirm the need for “reliable, high-speed broadband ... to assist the Blue Mountains increase its competitiveness across a range of industry sectors”.

“It was a great opportunity to deliver the message to the minister, that digital connectivity is one of the most critical infrastructure requirements for the Blue Mountains,” he said. “We must take a ‘smart city’ approach.”

The delegation presented local case studies showing how the current digital infrastructure in the region presents significant challenges to business and economic development. Those constraints included the increasing failure of the existing copper line network, increasing service outages, significant delays in connectivity for new connections and no competition in relation to service providers. A map was used to illustrate that many towns throughout the Blue Mountains have no ADSL 2 ports available.

“A consistent, high speed service is required that will perform within the Blue Mountains topographic and climatic constraints,” said BMCCG chairman, Hereward Dundas-Taylor. “Many line-of-sight wireless and cloud and fog-affected satellites are not suitable propositions.”

Mr Turnbull tweeted a picture from the event held on November 6 with the words:   “Discussing broadband in the Blue Mtns w Louise Markus MP and members of Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise” but has not made any public statements on the issue. But the groups are hopeful of  a breakthrough.

“The timing of the meeting was critical, with the government conducting a 60 day strategic review of the NBN including an analysis of progress and cost of the roll-out,” Mr Dundas-Taylor said.