Horsham and Haven to get high-speed internet

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced yesterday that 700,000 premises across Victoria would be hooked up to the National Broadband Network within three years.

Works will start in Horsham and Haven in December 2013, with high-speed internet to be up and running in about a year.

Bendigo, Shepparton and Albury will also gain access to the NBN within the next three years, but Warrnambool, Hamilton, Mildura and Swan Hill are among centres to miss out.

Wimmera Development Association chief executive Jo Bourke said the fibre roll-out was great news for schools, health services and businesses in Horsham.

"Video conferencing opportunities for virtual classes at schools and medical diagnosis will provide huge benefits," she said. "People need to start becoming internet savvy so they can use this technology to its full potential.

"Elderly people particularly need to know their way around the internet, because this network has the potential to save them from having to go to Ballarat and Melbourne for medical appointments."

But the fibre network roll-out plan received mixed reactions across the Wimmera, because Nhill, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, St Arnaud, Donald, Stawell and Ararat and surrounding areas missed out.

They will have to wait until after 2015 for the technology to be delivered.

Hindmarsh Shire chief executive Dean Miller said he was disappointed with the announcement and he felt NBN Co had not lived up to its word.

"We talked with NBN Co representatives and they assured us this technology would be delivered to regional areas first," he said.

"So I find it very frustrating works have started in suburbs of Geelong, which already have great internet, but Dimboola and Nhill miss out."

Yarriambiack Shire councillor Ray Kingston shared Mr Miller's sentiments.

"I would like to see more information about when wireless and satellite networks are delivered," he said.

"My understanding was people in isolated areas would see these improvements first so they could be kept up to speed."

Both Mr Miller and Cr Kingston were keen to know if the Coalition would continue the fibre roll-out in the Wimmera.

The Federal Opposition remains divided over the broadband plan.

Mr Miller said inequities would arise if towns such as Warracknabeal, Nhill and Dimboola were to receive a different quality of internet from Horsham.

"This network is going to change the face of health services, schools and businesses across the region," he said.

"I hope our federal Member for Mallee John Forrest will support the uniform roll-out of this technology."

But Mr Forrest said he did not support the roll-out of fibre networks.

"It's not affordable and I mean really, how much internet do you need?" he said.

"The Wimmera's internet should come from wireless technology, which will improve over time."