Regional digital plan presented to government

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.

“Locals know their area best, so consultants covered the Central Highlands asking the relevant questions about black spots, NBN coverage and mobile usage,” said George Fong, Chair of the Central Highlands Regional Partnership.

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.

The plan was developed as part of the State government’s $45 million Connecting Regional Communities program.

These are nine regional partnerships across Victoria, each of whom is preparing a digital plan.

“It 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,” Mr Fong said.

“I 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.

“Each of the partnership’s Chairs are writing an individual letter and a unified letter for the State government to take to the Federal government.

“We 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’”.

Mr Fong said digital technology and infrastructure are fundamental to the economic and social growth of regional Victoria.

It is essential that businesses and communities are not left behind.

“The plan is not perfect but it is out there now for comment and it’s a great starting point.”

The remaining eight plans will be released over the coming months.