THE HON ANGUS TAYLOR MP
Member for Hume
THE HON PAUL FLETCHER MP
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts
THE HON MARK COULTON MP
Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government
MEDIA RELEASE
8 June 2021
Improved digital connectivity for Canyonleigh, Penrose and Sutton Forest
People living at Canyonleigh, Penrose and Sutton Forest can now look forward to new and improved telecommunications services thanks to the Morrison McCormack Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (the RCP).
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, Regional Communications Minister, Mark Coulton and Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor today announced the area surrounding Canyonleigh and Penrose will benefit from new and improved digital connectivity under the program.
“I’m thrilled that residents and businesses in this area will enjoy the benefits and opportunities that improved digital connectivity brings,” Mr Taylor said.
The Highlands community has long been campaigning for better connectivity in the area, and it’s the Coalition Government that’s delivering it,” Mr Taylor said.
“This project will be delivered by local provider, Ace Internet Services and will deploy a fixed wireless broadband network in the Canyonleigh area of the Southern Highlands, near Sutton Forest. The network will support high definition video, data feed and communications for the Rural Fire Service and first responders in the Southern Highlands, as well as enabling the provision of high speed internet to areas of Canyonleigh, Penrose and Sutton Forest.”
Federal Regional Communications Minister Mark Coulton said the Government was listening to the needs of regional communities and businesses and was pleased to see the RCP being used to support the design and delivery place-based solutions which solved rural connectivity issues.
“This next tranche of projects under the Regional Connectivity Program will make a difference on the ground for local communities,” Minister Coulton said.
“I am pleased with the quality of projects being put forward which are tailored to the needs of each region and are supported by the community; a result of a collaborative approach between the telecommunications industry, businesses, regional communities and local councils.
“Connectivity – digital and physical – is vital for regional Australia to fulfil its full potential to do business, work and raise a family, no more so than now with the unprecedented interest in people living and working in a regional area.”
“This investment will provide targeted uplifts to connectivity in the regional areas which need it the most, ensuring that more Australians can access high-speed, reliable broadband and mobile services,” Minister Fletcher said.
The Federal Government is contributing a total of $117.4 million (GST inclusive) to the first round of the RCP, generating total new investment of more than $232 million (GST inclusive) through co-contributions from funding recipients, state and territory governments and other third parties, such as local governments, regional businesses and community development organisations.
In addition, the Government has made further funding of $105.8 million available for a second round of the program and will call for applications later this year, following consultation of program guidelines.
The delivery of successful projects under the Program will begin shortly with most projects to be completed by June 2022.
More information about the RCP is available at: communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet/regional-connectivity-program.