McCORMACK WELCOMES PROGRAM TO IMPROVE REGIONAL DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

A $53 million Federal Government program to improve connectivity in the regions has been welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack.

Mr McCormack said applications were now open for the Regional Connectivity Program.

“I encourage regional development organisations, telecommunications providers and government organisations in the Riverina and Central West to collaborate on projects and apply for funding,” Mr McCormack said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown again businesses can operate in the regions just as well as they can in the cities given good connectivity and I want our region to have the best connectivity possible to maximise our potential.”

The program will provide targeted investment in local telco infrastructure projects to maximise economic and social opportunities in regional and remote communities across the country.

Examples of projects which could be funded under the program include upgrades to mobile infrastructure to improve community access to telehealth, remote education and retail internet and phone services or the development of enterprise-grade broadband networks to support local agricultural, manufacturing and tourism businesses to increase their online presence.

The online Program Noticeboard provides a portal for collaboration where applicants can find and register potential projects, linking regional communities and industry providers.

“I encourage applicants to use the Program Noticeboard to share ideas and work together to develop proposals that will improve connectivity for the Riverina and Central West and drive benefits for our community,” Mr McCormack said.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said the Government was taking a “place‑based”’ approach to investment through the program because it recognised regions such as the Riverina and Central West had distinct digital needs and in some cases required customised solutions to complement existing infrastructure.

Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communciations and Local Government, Mark Coulton, said collaboration was an excellent method to give an application real bite.

“We are looking for projects that will provide the most profound benefit to local communities and by joining forces, I’m confident we will see many great solutions come from the bush to improve services in the bush,” Mr Coulton said.

Applications are open until 20 October 2020 (5:00pm AEDT). The guidelines and application process are available on the Government’s central grants website: www.grants.gov.au

Shane Manning