'Infrastructure for the future'

Labor's fibre-to-the-premises National Broadband Network scheme, promised to deliver to Kyneton and central Victoria within three years, will be the answer for rural homes, says Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters said.

Rachel Wattie

The Federal Coalition's fibre-to-the-node broadband plan, relying on a decaying copper network, has been branded inadequate.

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, says Tony Abbott's scheme, which promises to deliver earlier and cheaper broadband to Australia, is "like building the Calder highway with dirt roads for off ramps", and Kyneton NBN Action leader, Andrew Hedge, says the copper network is "not up to the task".

The fibre-to-the-node plan has failed to address central Victorian residents' problems with internet access, Ms Chesters said.

But Labor's fibre-to-the-premises scheme, which is currently being rolled out, promising to deliver to Kyneton and central Victoria within three years, will be the answer for rural homes, Ms Chesters said.

"It means that more people can move into Kyneton and central Victoria, and bring their small business with them."

Kyneton residents would be able to 'telecommute' (work from home), or from a local 'hotspot', rather than having to commute all the way to Melbourne.

The Coalition's promised download speed of between 25 and 100 megabits per second by the end of 2016, and 50 to 100 megabits per second by 2019 is not fast enough, Ms Chesters said.

Labor's NBN, promising 100 meg this year and 1000 meg next year, is essential for healthcare, business and education opportunities.

"The future of our economy depends on homes and businesses being able to connect to the world in a faster way," she said.

"It's infrastructure for the future."

Kyneton NBN Action leader, Andrew Hedge, said the most important thing people in Kyneton want is to feel that they are on an equivalent service to people in the major cities.

Kyneton's current internet connection, ADSL2+, doesn't get half the top speed the technology should be able to get, he said.

"The copper is clearly not up to the task."

Meanwhile, Kosmac & Clemens Optometrists' senior optometrist Ed Kosmac, residing just eight kilometres out of Kyneton, doesn't have a copper line at all for internet, and has to rely on mobile broadband to access the internet - paying $59 for only 10 gigabytes per month.

"That's pretty much the maximum we can get," Mr Kosmac said.

The 10 gigabytes usually only lasts about two weeks, he said.

"So we are constantly going two weeks without internet."

"It certainly isn't adequate living on a mobile broadband service."

What is the National Broadband Network?

- Labor is currently rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) to Australia, promising construction will have started for 48855,500 homes and businesses by June 30, 2016.

- Labor has recently expanded its plan to include NBN availability to 4,900 homes and businesses in Castlemaine; 2,400 in Kyneton; 2300 in Romsey and Lancefield; and 1,000 in Maldon by June 30, 2016.

- The NBN provides speeds up to 100 megabytes this year, and up to 1000 megabytes next year.

- NBN replaces the copper network, which wasn't originally built with the internet in mind.

- With NBN, 93 per cent of Australian homes and businesses will have access to broadband with speeds reaching one gigabyte per second via fibre-to-the-premises scheme. The remaining seven per cent will have access to broadband speeds up to 12 megabits per second via fixed wireless and satellite technologies.

- Fibre-to-the-premises delivers broadband to Australians via an optic fibre, which is a thin glass or plastic strand that carries light along its length, and is capable of providing faster speeds than copper or wireless technologies.

- There is an increasing trend across countries such as Japan, South Korea, Denmark and Sweden to roll out fibre-to-the-premises as the preferred technology.

- According to a survey done by Australian-based marketing solutions provider, ExactTarget, 13 million Australians spend over 18 hours a day online, suggesting the government's investment into broadband services is appropriate.

Campaigning for schools - Labor candidate launches education petition

Woodend Primary School principal, Andy Kozak, and Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters with her petition. Photo: Chris Fleming

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters visited Woodend Primary School last week to launch her 'Macedon Ranges supports Fairer Funding for our Schools' campaign.

Ms Chesters said the Federal Labor government has put on the table millions of dollars for Macedon Ranges schools that deserve and need this funding to help ensure our kids get the best education for the best start in life. 

"Right now, the Liberal State Government and Federal Opposition are refusing to back the plan," Ms Chesters said. 

"Under Labor's National Plan for School Improvement, Victorian schools would benefit from an extra $4 billion, or about $1.8 million per school on average, over the next six years. 

"With one in 12 students not reaching minimum education standards, this is money that Macedon Ranges schools like Woodend Primary School need, and need right now."

Ms Chesters said that under Labor's plan all schools would be funded through a fairer system which is based on the needs of individual students and provides extra, targeted support for schools and students who need it most.

"Liberal State Premier Denis Napthine's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"Instead of putting Victorian schools first, Denis Napthine has turned his back on our students and resorted to slashing vital education funding.

"That's why we're launching this campaign. 

We are calling on Premier Napthine to follow the example of his NSW colleague, Premier Barry O'Farrell, and sign up to our plan to deliver a better deal for Victorian schools.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in. This would ensure all schools get the funding they need to deliver the best education.

"Now it is up to everyone in the Macedon Ranges to get behind this campaign and demonstrate to the State and Federal Liberals that we support the National Plan for School Improvement and that Bendigo wants the funding that is on the table for our achools."

An online petition supporting the plan can be signed by visiting Ms Chesters' Facebook page facebook.com/lisachestersbendigo and clicking the link.

$1.1M to fix black spots

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, and Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, at the corner of Egans Lane at the intersection of Dons Road and Three Chain Road, Newham, which has been awarded Black Spot funding.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, have welcomed the Federal Government's Budget allocation of $1,100,000 to fix three dangerous black spots in the Macedon Ranges.

The funding is the one significant cash injection from the Budget awarded to local projects.

The approved projects are:

· Three Chain Road, near Dons Road, at Newham: $814,000 to widen and seal the shoulder, install a skid-resistant seal, seal bellmouths and bus-bays, install a guardrail, line marking and signage and remove obscuring trees and vegetation;

· Romsey Road, near Mt Macedon to Hanging Rock Road, at Newham: $186,000 to widen and seal the shoulder, seal intersection approaches, remove an embankment and tree, install line marking and signage and complete drainage works.

· Burke & Wills Track, between Showlers Road and Wescott Lane, at Lancefield: $98,000 to install guardrail on all bends, improve signage, install curve advisory markers, and widen the seal on the western approach bend.

The projects were recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and will be delivered during the course of the coming financial year (2013-14).

Mr Mitchell said since being elected in 2007, the Federal Labor Government has allocated over $8.2 million to fix 26 black spots across the McEwen electorate.

"This investment is helping to make our local roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with 23 of these projects already completed," said Mr Mitchell.

"And the good thing about our Black Spot program is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade.

"Nomination forms are available from my office. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from: www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au."

Mr Albanese said a recent evaluation of the program found that fatal and casualty crashes are reduced at treated sites by 30 per cent, which translates to the saving of one life per year for every 84 projects. It also returns around $7.70 for every $1 invested by reducing the number and cost of crashes.

"That's why nationally we've doubled the program's funding to half a billion dollars - more than honouring all our election commitments."

Labor's candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, said the funding for works at Newham were a much-needed safety boost for roads in the local community.

Students pitch in to address maintenance woes

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters (left), with Kyneton Primary School student council members, Maggie Copeland and Chloe Meyer, and school council president, Fiona Copeland. The student council is pitching in to raise funds to repair the school's toilets.

Angela Crawford

The desperate need for Kyneton's K-12 Education Precinct to be realised has been further highlighted by increasing maintenance issues faced by both Kyneton Secondary College and Kyneton Primary School.

The most recent example is Kyneton Primary School's antiquated heating system, which broke down during first term and is awaiting repair, hopefully before the students return to school.

School council president, Fiona Copeland, said the maintenance budget won't cover all that needs to be done. 

"It's an old boiler system and needs parts - it's blown out the budget really, the winter's coming in and we really need to have it working," she said.

"There's a lot of things that need repair and issues that have been tagged as priority."

A general clean up and painting of the school's toilets is also needed, so the student council has taken up the task of raising the funds itself.

The students held a 'Guess the Easter Eggs in the Jar' competition before the end of term and raised $120 for the effort.

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, visited the school for an assembly last week and was shocked to learn the students had to fundraise themselves to repair the toilets.

"It is shocking enough that young students are fundraising to fix the toilets, however, it's not the only maintenance issue at Kyneton Primary. Other issues challenging the school maintenance budget include a heater that needs repair, loose roof slates and leaking guttering," she said. 

"Principal Wendy Pearce and the Kyneton Primary school teachers are doing an outstanding job. Whilst the teachers, staff and school community are working hard to ensure their students receive a quality education, the state of the school buildings and facilities is appalling."

"Public school maintenance and maintenance budgets are the responsibility of the Victorian State Liberal Government but they are clearly failing meet the funding needs our schools."

Ms Chesters said the Federal Government's National Plan for School Improvement will provide a fairer school funding model for all schools.

"Negotiations are continuing ahead of COAG and we're working hard to secure a deal with all states and systems," she said. 

 "We're asking the State Liberal Government to pay their fair share and commit to the National Plan for School Improvement."