Kiama Downs siblings Cooper, Tylah, and Georgia Lee, are making good use of the faster internet connection, which they have now had for a year. Picture: DYLAN ROBINSON
A YEAR after the National Broadband Network became available to Minnamurra and Kiama Downs, Julie Lee's family is reaping the benefits.
The family switched from ADSL in November, allowing Ms Lee's three children, Georgia, 13, Cooper, 11, and Tylah, 7, to use the internet simultaneously without noticing slower speeds.
"Also my husband live-streamed the Quicksilver Pro in high definition - before it was pitiful, it was always buffering, but now you only get slight pauses," she said.
Ms Lee said she believed the times of choosing a film from video stores were almost gone, and when she was unable to drive for two weeks following a knee operation, she could even shop for groceries from home.
"You almost don't have to leave the house any more," she said.
As Kiama and Jamberoo await their connection, an NBN Co spokeswoman said the peak tourist season construction break had ended.
"NBN Co and our contractor will continue to work closely with council and the community as construction becomes active in Kiama's retail areas," she said.
The spokeswoman said work crews would continue to face the basalt rock challenge until the build was complete - longer boring and trenching timeframes were responsible for delaying the build in recent months.
"In saying this we have been happy with the progress that our construction crews have been making recently," she said.
NBN Co will contact residents by direct mail in June once the network becomes available.
But for Jamberoo residents living outside the fibre footprint, the roll out of fixed wireless could be as far away as 2015.
Meanwhile, Strata Community Australia has encouraged owners corporations in Kiama and Kiama Heights to register their apartment buildings for a free NBN installation - charges will apply for these building installations after the roll out is complete.
To register, visit stratacommunity.org.au.
