After 15 years of lobbying, history was made for the people of the Barcoo Shire this week when Telstra’s optic fibre team reached its destination at Windorah.
Mayor and longtime champion of the quest to connect the remote communities in the shire to first-class digital technology, Bruce Scott was on site to watch the last loops of cable roll into the pit.
”I cannot thank everyone who has had a hand in delivering this project enough for this historic moment - you have all had a hand in making the lives and opportunities of the residents and visitors to Barcoo shire so much more fuller and richer,” he said.
“Having access to world-class telecommunications changes lives; connects families and friends; gives access to so much social, learning and business content; saves lives and prolongs lives; supports businesses and innovation; enables smart communities; creates savings to the consumer, patient, business and public purse.
“But in this case most particularly - all of this opportunity, in very remote and distant locations such as in Barcoo and Diamantina Shires, will I am sure set a precedent for how clever public investment by all three levels of government can change everything for the better for the future.”
He said that at times the project seemed like a distant dream as he and the Remote Area Planning and Development Board, of which he is a director, lobbied for the money to connect the communities of Stonehenge, Jundah and Windorah to the world of modern communications.
A successful lobby to then-Prime Minister Tony Abbot in May last year saw civic leaders jubilant after a handshake deal and a promise of $7 million for the project to make fixed-line voice and mobile, data and video telecommunications available for Barcoo and Diamantina shires, which soured a little when it became apparent that what they thought was guaranteed funding turned into a request to go back to the competitive market of the National Stronger Regions Fund.
Finally, in December last year, news came through that the application had been successful, albeit with the federal government contribution falling to $5.95 million and the state government contribution rising another $1m to $6.25m.
The two remote shires are putting in $4.30m, or the equivalent of nearly four years of the total rate collection of each shire, from an original contribution of $3m.
Maranoa MP David Littleproud was also happy to announce the arrival of Telstra’s optic fibre team at Windorah.
“This project is ahead of schedule with at least 43 per cent now completed,” Mr Littleproud said.
“This construction of telecommunications infrastructure will provide high-speed internet access in the townships of Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie, Jundah and Stonehenge.
“These towns previously relied on microwave and radio links – installed in the 1980s – which often failed, leaving these towns without a landline phone connection for days, even weeks. The ageing infrastructure couldn’t even support mobile phone coverage.
“Without this infrastructure investment, the central west of my electorate was in danger of being left behind.
“Reliable telecommunications is the basis for everything from telehealth, tourism, education, business growth, community safety and enhances the liveability in the central west.”
Mr Littleproud said the Construction of Telecommunications Infrastructure in Central West Queensland project commenced in March 2016 and is expected to be completed in December 2017.
When the region will be able to make use of the new communications systems has not been ascertained.
Fast facts: Total project cost – $16.5 million. Federal government – $5.95m, Queensland government – $6.25m, Barcoo Shire Council – $2.15m, Diamantina Shire Council – $2.15m), Telstra – more than $4.88m in-kind contribution.