NSW Government eases planning rules for telcos

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 09 June 2009 05:13

IT Industry - Strategy

The NSW Government says it will amend the state planning system "to fast-track delivery by the Federal Government of broadband Internet to homes and businesses across metropolitan and regional NSW."

Planning minister, Kristina Keneally, said: "Along with a national broadband network comes infrastructure requirements such as cables, satellite dishes and telecommunications towers. The NSW Government will ensure timely planning approval of this infrastructure through the Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP)."

The Mobile Carriers Forum (MCF), which represents the four mobile network operators, said the draft amendments represented "Australia's leading framework for the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure" and would "greatly assist in the delivery of mobile broadband."

It comes as NSW and other states are vying with each other to be chosen as the location for the HQ of the planned NBN Co that will oversee the rollout of the National Broadband Network - a project that could cost up to $43B over eight years and employ in excess of 25,000 people.

MCF program manager, Matt Evans, said: "The NSW Government has...create[d] a regulatory environment for new telecommunications infrastructure that is superior to any other Australian state. The code strikes the right balance between providing services that we know people use every day and finding good local solutions for network facilities."

He added: "A similar code has operated successfully in Victoria since 1999. However, the draft NSW code has been written to reflect today's infrastructure needs to deliver high speed, capacity hungry data and broadband services...It ensures consistency of assessment across NSW's 152 local government areas."
He explained: "Some councils and shires have no rules, and are starting from a very low base. Other councils' rules were written without regard for how the technology works, so the code offers a significant improvement."

Keneally said that proposed amendments to the Infrastructure SEPP and the new draft NSW Telecommunications Facilities Code including broadband would be put on public exhibition until Friday 10 July and would expand the types of telecommunications facilities that do not need a development application. She called on the general public, community groups, councils and the property industry, to "make their views and suggestions on the proposed amendment known."