Centre opening leads way to digital future

THE Noosa Clever Networks project, a multimillion-dollar collaboration between the public and private sectors, would bring economic and social benefits to the region, spearheading the creation of new markets for businesses and new jobs, the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said at the project launch in Cooroy on Friday.

The project went “live”, with the opening of the state-of-the-art Cooroy Data Centre, providing high-capacity data backup support to businesses, wireless broadband and an optic fibre network.

The project, part of Connecting the Coast, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s telecommunications project funded by the Federal Government under the Clever Networks Program, and supported by Allegro Networks and Mach Technology, will deliver improved services for businesses, education, health and emergency services. It is the first Clever Networks project to be completed in Australia.     

Division 12 Councillor Lew Brennan, who Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbott said had “realized a dream” with the project’s launch, was “beamed in” from the Gold Coast in real time at the launch, showing high-speed broadband in action.     

Mr Abbott said council was leading the way towards a knowledge-based economy.     

Senator Conroy said the digital economy must underpin Australia’s future economic progress. The project would “end the great divide” and the “tyranny of distance” for regional communities.     

“The combined network is providing high-speed broadband options for as many as 38,500 businesses across the region,” Senator Conroy said. “It will contribute to sustainable growth and development of the region.”     

The project would receive a “big Guernsey” in the Digital Future Directions Paper, in which the Federal Government would outline benefits and opportunities of the digital economy.     

David Waldie, from Allegro Networks, said “real examples” of the technology at work included educating school children and giving them skills today for jobs in the future. An example in the health field was transmitting images to radiologists in other offices, to provide “real-time diagnoses” for patients.     

Paul Pettigrew, from Mach Technologies said the centre offered some of the most advanced technology in the world. He demonstrated how a business would be able to build a server in just minutes.     

Cr Brennan said the region could no longer rely on traditional industries of retail and tourism. Stage two of the project will continue into Noosa Heads. See www.connectingthecoast.com.au           
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