Ballina RSL to host National Broadband Network briefing for Page
Page MP Janelle Saffin has invited local people to hear from NBN Co Limited about its plans for rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) on the Northern Rivers region.
Ms Saffin, who last year successfully lobbied for early adoption of the network on the North Coast, will host a community NBN briefing at Ballina RSL Club on August 11.
Ms Saffin said NBN Co’s Community Relations Adviser Darren Rudd (pictured), who has extensive experience in global communications, would explain the economic and social benefits of super-fast broadband.
“Many businesses and individuals have contacted my offices in Lismore and Grafton, keen to take full advantage of the biggest nation-building project in Australia’s history,” Ms Saffin said.
“I lobbied hard with Southern Cross University, local government, business and the health sector to champion our submission in Canberra and Sydney for early adoption.
“And it was a real coup for our region last July when NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley announced Coffs Harbour as one of 19 second release sites.”
Ms Saffin said Coffs Harbour was selected on a range of technical criteria, and because of factors like the engagement of local government and the receptiveness of communities to broadband initiatives.
“NBN Co has identified Coffs is an area from which we can expect to see future rollout – extending and expanding the network – and my hope is that this will be to several centres in my electorate,” she said.
Ms Saffin also welcomed an agreement struck last month between NBN Co and Silcar Pty Ltd which enables NBN to prepare for the first large-scale deployment of optic fibre in New South Wales, including past premises in Coffs Harbour in the coming months.
Ms Saffin’s community briefing on NBN will be held in the Ballina RSL Club’s upstairs function room on Thursday, August 11, from 6.30pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Ms Saffin’s Lismore Electorate Office on 0266 219 909 by midday, Friday, August 5.
Ms Saffin is also hosting a luncheon briefing in Grafton on August 11 to update stakeholders who were involved in the original early adoption campaign.
BIO FOR DARREN RUDD:
Darren Rudd is currently the Advisor, Government Relations & External Affairs with a focus on Community Relations for Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory for the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co). Prior to his role at NBN, Darren held leadership positions in Strategy, Operations, Program Management and Government Relations at Alcatel-Lucent across Asia Pacific for the previous 12 years. He has also built his career at AT&T Corporation, IBM and BHP both locally and with a number of international postings.
