Some 18 months after it was first proposed and after a year of uncertainty about its legal structure, the various parties involved in the stillborn Tasmanian National Broadband Network joint venture with Aurora Energy have walked away from the idea.
In July 2009, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the National Broadband Network would be rolled out in Tasmania through a joint venture between the Federal NBN Company and state-owned Tasmanian utility, Aurora Energy, which has been involved in previous broadband initiatives in the Tasmania.
However, since that time uncertainty has reigned about whether the joint venture arrangement would actually come to pass, with the Tasmanian division of NBN Co operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of the larger national company and Doug Campbell, the chairman of the Tasmanian arm, stating in December 2009 that the joint venture idea had been ditched.
“At this point in time, it’s not operating as a joint venture. They’re just acting as our agent,” Campbell said of Aurora Energy at the time.
But the issue was still kicking around in October, when Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, said he was to meet with Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett, to discuss the issue. At the time, Liberal Senator, Mary Jo Fisher, said the joint venture talks were “hastening very slowly”.
Conroy's office has now issued a statement on the matter, stating the Federal and State governments had decided not to pursue a joint venture arrangement in Tasmania after all.
“NBN Tasmania and Aurora Energy have built a strong working relationship and Aurora Energy has entered a commercial arrangement to continue its role as agent, for NBN Co, in Stage 2 of the rollout,” the statement said. “All parties are strongly committed to the successful rollout of the NBN in Tasmania.”
“Work is progressing well on the rollout of the NBN in Tasmania. NBN Co continues to connect homes and businesses in the Stage 1 communities of Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point, while design and planning work is well underway in the Stage 2 regions,” the statement said. “Consultation with local councils is already underway and constructed is expected to begin next year.”
