Locals hail NBN plan
THE Alligator Creek community has welcomed plans to bring the National Broadband Network to their community.
NBN Co has lodged an application to build a telecommunications facility at 31 Mt Elliot Drive, Alligator Creek.
This will give Alligator Creek and the surrounding areas fixed wireless coverage to the network.
A 50m monopole, three panel antennas, radio transmission equipment and shelter for the equipment are part of the proposal.
“The newly proposed facility is to be located within an 80 sqm fenced compound, enclosed by a 2.4m high chainlink fence, comprising the facility itself and associated equipment housings,” the plan states. “Not including any construction variations, the facility will not exceed a total height of 52m above ground level.”
Alison Gill, who works at the Alligator Creek roadhouse and lives nearby, welcomed the news.
“Any improvement to the service we get out here has got to be a plus,” she said. “The service is very patchy.” She said the roadhouse catered mostly for local people.
“We love our locals so anything we can do better for them would be good,” she said.
Eddie Riddle, who lives in Alligator Creek, said internet in the area now was as “slow as a snail’s pace”. “If my kids get into the games online, I can’t do anything,” he said.
NBN local manager Queensland Ryan Williams said if the development application was approved, construction was anticipated to start late this year or early next year.
He said the facility would provide services to more than 200 homes and businesses in the south of Alligator Creek.
“The quality and availability of ADSL services available to homes and businesses in the Alligator Creek area varies significantly depending upon location,” Mr Williams said.
NBN Co engaged Ericsson as the project manager, which then engaged Visionstream to act on its behalf.
In the development application Visionstream project planner Jessica Bradbury said NBN Co had undertaken a thorough analysis of potential site alternatives.
The application is open for public comment until August 6.