The City of Casey, which has residents struggling inside mobile blackspots and businesses suffering with poor internet access, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s connectivity infrastructure upgrade announcements.
The State Government’s $500 million Connecting Victoria program will work to install new mobile towers and other much-needed infrastructure upgrades to fast-track better mobile coverage and broadband.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff, said the City of Casey had been advocating for improved digital connectivity for its growing community.
“Improved digital connectivity is one of the City of Casey’s key advocacy priorities,” Cr Duff said.
“High-speed internet and reliable mobile infrastructure are critical to accelerating economic and social opportunities in the City of Casey and the broader region.”
Located in the south east growth corridor, the City of Casey is home to more than 380,000 residents and is one of the fastest growing local government areas in Australia.
“High speed internet and reliable mobile infrastructure is needed to keep pace with the growing needs of our community and to provide essential connectivity between residential and employment zones in the region, enhancing economic growth and productivity.”
Ms Duff said the City of Casey was home to a growing number of residents living in mobile blackspots.
“Poor mobile coverage is especially being felt by residents in Clyde and Clyde North, two of the fastest-growing suburbs in Melbourne’s south east.
“We’ve found that with more residents working from home, the economic and social impacts of poor internet and mobile coverage have been exacerbated.”
Ms Duff said City of Casey businesses were also experiencing poor internet access, affecting their capacity to operate and reducing their profitability, especially for cloud-based businesses.
“Without access to a high-speed 5G data network it’s difficult for organisations to invest in innovation, research and development as they cannot trial emerging technology. This is hampering opportunities for growth, local employment and economic benefits and competitiveness in the global market.
“We welcome the announcement for mobile connectivity upgrades and will continue to advocate for what our community needs and deserves.”
Improved digital connectivity is one of the City of Casey’s key advocacy priorities as part of its Connecting Casey advocacy campaign. Other priority projects include Clyde Road Corridor Upgrade, Clyde Rail Link and Thompsons Road upgrade and extension.
“Our Connecting Casey campaign is a voice for advocacy and change to help ensure our community can become more connected, bold and resilient,” Ms Duff said.
“Connecting Casey aims to respond to the challenges our residents face as well as the support they will need for security, prosperity and continued growth.”
The mobile connectivity improvements for Melbourne’s south-east are expected to provide improved coverage for residents and businesses in Beaconsfield, Berwick, Botanic Ridge, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne North, Cranbourne West, Endeavour Hills, Eumemmering, Hallam and Hampton Park.
Image courtesy of the City of Casey.
