The Waikato District Council is after a share of the $360 million of government investment in Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) including $100m that the Government has allocated for rural broadband and another $50m for better service in mobile phone black spots.
The Waikato District Council launched its bid for a share of the cash at the meeting of the Council’s Strategy & Finance committee on 23rd June.
The draft submission is ready to submit to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) by the July 3 deadline.
Waikato Mayor Allan Sanson, “”There was no time to delay – the competition for fibre was on. I can assure you, every council in New Zealand is up for this prize.”
Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson told the committee, “There was no time to delay – the competition for fibre was on. I can assure you, every council in New Zealand is up for this prize.”
The Council organised a web survey of residents and received over 600 responses. Raglan businesses organised their own broadband speed survey and provided more information.
The Council used a complicated priority system to feed in a number of Stats to work out priorities. Huntly topped council’s urban area priority list, followed by Tuakau, Raglan, Ngaruawahia and Tamahere. “Te Uku” topped the rural priority list followed by Tamahere-Tauwhare and then Kainui.
The “Te Uku” statistical area includes the Te Uku town area and also Rangitahi Peninsula, Upper Wainui Rd, Manu Bay and Whale Bay.
The primary stats used for the prioritisation were the population statistics that would get UFB to the greatest number of residents while secondary criteria included libraries, health facilities, marae and visitor numbers.
Tamahere Ward Cr Wally Hayes and Onewhero Cr Rosemarie Costar had concerns over how centres were prioritised and abstained from voting for the proposal.
The committee voted to recommend the registration of interest for adoption.
