INVESTIGATIVE field work and analysis has found inadequate mobile coverage in the Central Highlands region, with users recently registering 268 blackspots.<\/p>\n
Evaluation, conducted by the Central Highlands Regional Partnership, also highlighted lack of availability of adequate, affordable business-grade telecommunications and digital connectivity services for regional businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocals know their area best, so consultants covered the Central Highlands asking the relevant questions about black spots, NBN coverage and mobile usage,\u201d said George Fong, Chair of the Central Highlands Regional Partnership.<\/p>\n
As a result of this work the Partnership, which includes the City of Ballarat and Golden Plains Shire, has launched a digital plan pointing out the gaps in the current digital infrastructure and setting out suggestions on how they can be plugged.<\/p>\n
The plan was developed as part of the State government\u2019s $45 million Connecting Regional Communities program.<\/p>\n
These are nine regional partnerships across Victoria, each of whom is preparing a digital plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will empower us collectively and in our individual partnership regions to provide evidence-based proof of where the digital divide lies in our regions and map the impacts and effects,\u201d Mr Fong said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see these plans as nine chapters of one document. We then will have the opportunity to say to the Federal Government we have the evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of the partnership\u2019s Chairs are writing an individual letter and a unified letter for the State government to take to the Federal government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saying these are our documents, we have worked together to get this, you have never had this in your life before, now you need to do something with it\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Fong said digital technology and infrastructure are fundamental to the economic and social growth of regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
It is essential that businesses and communities are not left behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plan is not perfect but it is out there now for comment and it\u2019s a great starting point.\u201d<\/p>\n
The remaining eight plans will be released over the coming months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INVESTIGATIVE field work and analysis has found inadequate mobile coverage in the Central Highlands region, with users recently registering 268 blackspots. Evaluation, conducted by the Central Highlands Regional Partnership, also highlighted lack of availability of adequate, affordable business-grade telecommunications and digital connectivity services for regional businesses. \u201cLocals know their area best, so consultants covered the […]<\/p>\n