Federal Members, Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones, have today demanded explanation from Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the disappearance of whole suburbs from the NBN Co website.
It appears that the companys website, which used to show suburbs where construction would commence within twelve months or three years, has been updated to only show suburbs that have an existing construction contract.
Whole suburbs that have been anticipating the rollout commencing to bring the fibre to their home will be shocked to discover today that they have been taken completely off the map. We have spent the last two years working with our local community to develop new models of businesses and service delivery to help with the transformation of our region and now we are in complete limbo thanks to the Abbott Government it is even worse than we feared in the election campaign. Ms Bird said.
Stephen Jones says he is outraged that thousands of homes and businesses that he had pushed hard to be added to the rollout timetable are now being left in limbo.
The strongest message we received about the NBN during the election campaign was that people wanted to know when it was coming to their home or business, they campaigned and petitioned because it was so important to them and now Tony Abbott has switched them off it is a complete betrayal of our area.
I know right now the people of Dapto are confused and they have every right to be.
They are seeing the NBN trucks outside their windows laying fibre, ready to be connected without any indication of what the new Government is planning on doing about this critical project.
Suburbs which were previously on the map but which now have no indication of their status include:
Woonona, Russell Vale,Corrimal, Bellambi, Tarrawanna,Fairy Meadow, Fernhill,Towradgi, Balgownie
Kembla Grange, Wongawilli,Horsley, Marshall Mount, Penrose, Dapto, Wollongong, West Wollongong,Mangerton, Mount Keira, Keiraville,Gwynneville, Mount Saint Thomas, Coniston
This is nearly 29,000 households and businesses affected and they deserve answers from Malcolm Turnbull as to when they will be back on the map, Ms Bird and Mr Jones concluded.
