Nearly $5 million from an initial $90 million pool to extend the National Broadband Network has been allocated to the Nicholls electorate.
Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum said the Murchison community would receive $2.7 million to upgrade NBN access from fixed wireless to FTTP.
“To be delivered by NBN Co, this will result in a significant connectivity improvement in a town that boasts local orchard, vineyard, and dairy farm activities, as well as a primary school and other services,” Mr Drum said.
Similarly, Rushworth will receive $1.8 million to extend the FTTP network.
“I’m thrilled that residents and businesses in Murchison and Rushworth will enjoy the benefits and opportunities that improved digital connectivity brings,” Mr Drum said.
Longleat Winery is still using an ADSL internet connection, which the Vazzolers say is limiting for business and family.
“This will even up the playing field and give us that leg up to be able to compete with people internationally and in the bigger cities — we can have that instant presence online,” Mrs Vazzoler said.
They now have visions of bringing their operation to life online, showing work on the vines, a bubbling ferment or the pizza and cheese-making.
“Traditionally our business model has been to offer something the big guys can’t — and that is they walk in here and they see real vines, a real winemaker with tannin-stained hands, but everything changed last year because everyone was unable to go out, so people were trying to access that stuff online.
“It is essential now for businesses like ours to be in the game by having quick access.”
China’s wine tariffs have had a big impact on the business, and the internet upgrade aims to help as the business shift to a larger function centre and a focus on tourism and a cellar door.
“We are treating the China situation as a positive and an opportunity to reinvent ourselves,” Mrs Vazzoler said
“We have gone from a China-based business where a few people come to the cellar door, to where cellar door is our focus now.”
The infrastructure program is a key component of the Federal Government’s response to the 2018 Regional Telecommunications Review, and the delivery of successful projects is expected to be completed by mid-2022.
