Wyndham residents within a broadband ‘black hole’ could face a lengthy wait for high-speed internet after the federal government revised plans for the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
About 2700 premises between Railway Avenue and Ballan and Heaths roads in Werribee were due to be connected to the fibre-optic network within months, with the former government announcing in May that they were part of a 12-month rollout.
St Andrews Primary School and Wyndham Centre College were among the premises expected to be connected to the network by May next year. But Werribee was missing from revised plans revealed last Wednesday as part of an ongoing review.
A spokeswoman for NBN Co said the review would determine how to best provide high-speed broadband to all Australians as soon and as cost-effectively as possible.
It’s not known how the review will affect other areas of Wyndham, with houses in Point Cook, Seabrook, Werribee South, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Little River supposed to be connected by 2016.
Wyndham computer specialist Daniel Dortmans said it was an “absolute disgrace” that areas like Point Cook still had no start date in sight.
“The area is a complete and utter internet black hole and will remain so,’’ he said.
‘‘In the medium to long-term, the situation is going to devalue properties by quite a big margin.
‘‘If you’re stuck between satellite and dial-up internet speeds, why would you even consider moving here?”
The NBN Co spokeswoman said all areas previously included in the one and three-year rollout plans had been removed.
“The maps will be updated when further areas enter the building stage and the shape of the rollout becomes clearer following completion of the strategic review,” the spokeswoman said.
Lalor Labor MP Joanne Ryan said the government was denying residents access to high-speed internet.
“Residents and business owners will be left with one of two choices: battle on using copper or pay up to $5000 to have fibre connected to their premises,” she said.
“The government should be ramping up the rollout of the NBN. Instead it has chosen to slow it down indefinitely.”
