South Australia to get $3.4m Clever Networks funding

Stuart Corner
Monday, 14 May 2007 17:26

IT Policy - Regulation

Communications minister, senator Helen Coonan, has announced a further two of the 16 recipients of funding under the first round of the Clever networks programme.

$2.3 million will be provided to the South Australian Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure for its South Australia High Speed Broadband Infrastructure Project. The funds will be used to provide broadband infrastructure and services for the regional centres of Berri, Murray Bridge and Port Pirie. "This project will enable high speed broadband connections from state government agencies in Adelaide to those in Berri, Murray Bridge and Port Pirie," Coonan said.

The project will deliver around 15,000 metres of fibre optic cable in each targeted regional centre. Infrastructure roll-out for the project is scheduled to commence in July 2007. The formal launch of the network development is scheduled to occur in December 2008.

$1.1 million will be provided to TAFE SA Regional Institute for its Clever Training project which will use broadband technology to break down the barrier of distance that limits access to technical education for around 3,377 students. TAFE SA estimates that the project's new videoconference technology will provide opportunities for twice as many students in a variety of courses.

The TAFE SA Regional Institute will contribute $1.8 million to the project, taking the total project cost to $2.9 million. The network is expected to be operational from the beginning of first semester, in February 2008.

"Many residents in regional, rural and remote South Australia—especially those on the land or operating small businesses—cannot undertake TAFE education because of travel time, costs and the difficulty of finding replacement staff," Coonan said.

"Some campuses are often only open on a part-time basis and the cost of petrol and lack of access to alternative transport options can make attendance an expensive exercise...Thanks to this innovative Clever Training project, students living in regional, rural and remote areas of SA will be able to access classes through videoconferencing at their homes or businesses, using either a PC or 3G videophone."

TAFE SA Regional Institute has 32 campuses and nine study centres spread across 980,000 square kilometres of regional South Australia.

Coonan announced last month  that there would be 16 projects funded under round one of the $113 million Clever Networks program, and said they would be announced individually in coming weeks.

Projects announced so far are:
• $1.4 million to Scope Connect to help people with disabilities in Victoria to receive remote advice or assessment via two-way audio and video from psychological therapists located in regional centres in Victoria.
• $4 million d for two projects in regional NSW to provide broadband between public hospitals and health facilities to share medical records and conduct remote assessments via two-way audio and video.

Applications for the second round of funding close on 9 July 2007. Guidelines and the submission package for round 2 are available at www.dcita.gov.au/clever_networks.