WA Local Government & the NBN Project

The rollout of the National Broadband Network is beginning across Australia. Victoria Park, Mandurah and Greater Geraldton will be among the first local government areas in Western Australia to be given NBN capability, bringing new opportunities for these local governments to deliver innovative services to community members and businesses.

Curtin University, iiNet, Cisco and the local governments of Victoria Park, Mandurah and Greater Geraldton are collaborating in the WA Local Government & the NBN Project to take advantage of these opportunities. As part of the project, local governments will identify ways they can use broadband technologies strategically to provide new and better services for their stakeholders. Curtin's approach will help each local government in the project address its unique challenges, while learning from other local governments' experiences. Prospective demonstration projects that can be implemented in the near future will be identified in each local government area.

If additional funding can be secured, this project is intended to be the first step in an ongoing research and development process lead by Curtin University that will help local governments, communities and businesses make the most of the NBN. Curtin University will assist participating local governments to develop applications for the substantial funding that the Federal Government has provided through its Digital Local Governments program. The Government is encouraging collaborative approaches in funding applications.