NEWS DESK
Faster internet to roll out next year MORE than 43,000 homes across several suburbs including Frankston, Baxter, Langwarrin and Karingal will have access to the National Broadband Network by the end of 2017 as part of an “accelerated plan” announced by the federal government. Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson hailed the planned connection of “superfast internet” for many suburbs in the electorate, including some who have struggled with slow internet speeds, as “critical for our community”. “I most recently met directly with representatives from NBN Co to discuss solutions for some of the internet ‘black spots’ in Baxter, Frankston South and Seaford,” Mr Billson said. “I was dismayed that some members of the community had limited access at best.” The former small business minister said the Coalition government will deliver the national broadband network “a decade earlier and far cheaper than expected under the previous Labor government”. “The Coalition government is able to deliver the NBN far quicker and cheaper than the previous Labor government by making use of a range of technologies. This includes using the existing copper and cable infrastructure already provided into homes and businesses. “We also recognise that there was little point overbuilding in some areas which already had high-speed broadband options available, or in dismantling and disposing of existing pay TV infrastructure that with the help of world-leading software can be easily and cost effec-
tively adapted to be made available for high-speed broadband.” Just over 15,000 premises in the Dunkley electorate can now choose to connect to the national broadband network. Critics of the Coalition’s NBN policy say the quicker rollout of the network has come at the expense of top internet speeds needed to align Australia with internet speeds in many first world countries. The Coalition opted for a less expensive fibre-to-the-node model for the NBN compared to Labor’s fibre-tothe-premises plan when it was in government. The FTTN model relies on outdated copper cables to connect the network to premises at the final point of connection while the FTTP model offers faster internet speeds since homes and businesses are connected directly to fibre optic cabling. Labor’s NBN plan was budgeted at $44.9 billion before the party lost government in 2013. The Coalition budgeted its plan at $28.5 billion before the election but the cost has since blown out to an estimated $46 billion. A NBN Co review of the Labor plan after the election found Labor’s network would have cost $73 billion if it had proceeded. Mr Billson said the rollout in Dunkley will mean 43,820 premises in Frankston, Baxter, Langwarrin, Langwarrin South, Karingal, Mount Eliza, part of Carrum Downs, part of Skye, Seaford and Mornington will be connected to the national broadband network by the end of 2017. Neil Walker
Bay watch: The whitebarred boxfish seems to be a ‘fish on the move. Recorded from Western Port to Dongarra, WA, it has only been sighted in Port Phillip in relatively recent times. It is one of the fish participants in the Great Victorian Fish Count will be asked to keep a look out for. Picture: Rick Stuart-Smith
Counting on rare, and common, fish WATCHING goldfish in a bowl can be restful or compared to waiting for grass to appear. But that won’t be the outcome for hundreds of divers and snorkelers in the water at Rye and Flinders this summer as part of the biggest citizen science event on Victoria’s marine calendar, the Great Victorian Fish Count. “The huge amount of enthusiasm volunteers have for the Great Victorian Fish Count reflects the deep knowledge and passion that exists in local communities for our marine life,” Caitlin Griffith from the Victorian National Parks Association said.
“This enthusiasm makes it possible to contribute large amounts of real, usable data to marine managers and improves our understanding of Victoria’s waters.” Now in its 11th year, the fish count is organised by the VPNA, Parks Victoria, Museum Victoria, Coastcare Victoria, dive operators and community groups. It will run from Saturday 21 November to Sunday 6 December. This year’s count is looking for “fish on the move”, and will focus on species that may be expanding their distribution and populations as a result of changes in the marine environment, such as ocean warming
due to climate change. Fish counters will be asked to watch for well-known fish as well as species that may be new or unusual to the area, logging unusual or rare sightings on the Redmap project (redmap.org. au). Redmap is a national citizen science project that records data and maps marine species that may be extending their range in Australia in response to changes in the marine environment. Registrations for the Great Victorian Fish Count are open to dive clubs and community groups. Details: fishcount. vnpa.org.au or call 9347 5188.
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Mornington News 27 October 2015
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