HALF of the Tullimbar Estate have access to the latest National Broadband Network (NBN) and yet just 500 metres away residents are merely a step-up from dial-up.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Action group NBN Action for Tullimbar Residents of Ridgeview Estate are frustrated that neighbours were receiving NBN and they were restricted to ADSL connections.
Out of 71 blocks in the Ridgeview Estate (stage one), only seven properties have access to fixed broadband and residents were informed they can only connect to ADSL.
Due to the growing population of Tullimbar, residents of stage one were informed there were not enough ports for new connections anymore and only stage two would get access to NBN.
Resident Belinda Doyle said before moving to fixed broadband, operating on ADSL had severely affected her online business.
“I was having to base my workload around the off-peak hours, when the speed was better,” she said.
“If we had to continue on mobile broadband, we would have sold our house and moved.
“I am also worried about the impact the lack of internet services will have on the value of our property, if we were to sell.
“It’s just so frustrating when people less than 500 metres away are getting the best internet service and people over here are only ADSL.”
Member for Throsby Stephen Jones and shadow minister for communications, Jason Clare met members of the action group yesterday and said they would take the matter to federal level for answers on the issue.
Mr Jones said the fibre optic cables were being laid right through stage one of the estate, over into stage two of the development.
“It was planned that the whole development got access to NBN but because of changes to the rollout strategy they have stopped the rollout for one half of the estate,” he said.