Maroochy Clever Networks Project

Announcing

The Maroochy Clever Networks Project was announced on Friday 7^th September 2007 by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, confirming $2.9 million in Australian Government Funding for the Maroochy Clever Networks project signaling high speed broadband internet access will soon be widely available across Maroochy and Caloundra local government areas.

Public-Private Partnership

The funding matches Maroochy Council and project partners, the University of the Sunshine Coast and Allegro Networks contribution and enables the roll-out of a competitively priced, high speed broadband network capable of reaching over half of the Sunshine Coast population and potentially 33,000 businesses in both local government areas.

Maroochy Mayor Joe Natoli said Maroochy is one of the fastest growing areas on the Sunshine Coast and this funding ensures technology is available to drive and support the continued growth and development of Maroochy and the rapidly growing region.  

“Maroochy’s population is expected to top 250,000 by 2026 and we need state of the art technology for education, business and health,” said Cr Natoli.  

“High speed broadband enhances education across the region.  It boosts the University of the Sunshine Coast’s research and teaching capacity, supports the development of the USC Innovation Centre’s new $4 million high tech Business Accelerator and opens up new online learning opportunities for primary and secondary schools and the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE.”