RESIDENTS moving into two of Horsham’s new estates will be the first in the Wimmera to have access to the National Broadband Network.
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Optic fibre connections went live at Sunnybrae and Waterlink estates on December 20.
There are no completed houses at either estate yet so the service has yet to be used, but Horsham Telstra store manager Chris Dunmore said he believed up to five houses were close to completion at Waterlink estate.
“One of the houses will be done in the next two to three weeks,” he said. “We believe the resident will be signing up for the NBN this week.
“They will have access to the highest internet speeds in the country.”
NBN fixed wireless technology is being built at several sites throughout the region.
Towns highlighted on NBNCo’s roll-out map include Donald, Wycheproof, Birchip, Minyip and Apsley.
Horsham Telstra has been preparing for the NBN to go live at the new estates for about four months.
“We have done a lot of homework around the estates and what the offers are,” Mr Dunmore said.
“We also have an NBN expert at our Firebrace Street store now, who can help customers with queries about the NBN, and a dedicated NBN information number.”
Mr Dunmore said the store was taking expressions of interest from people wanting to connect to the NBN.
“Telstra store Horsham receives progress reports from NBNCo, which are then used to advise customers,” he said.
The Sunnybrae and Waterlink estate connections were part of NBNCo’s greenfields project.
Under the previous Federal Government, new developments of 100 premises or more were offered the opportunity to be NBN fibre ready.
Infrastructure required for fibre was built into the land, ready for new home builders to tap into.
Developers had to sign an agreement with NBNCo to offer NBN-ready land plots.
Horsham Mayor David Grimble welcomed the development, and said he was eager for further information from NBNCo about plans for the rest of the municipality.
