BALLARAT residents can expect temporary noise, drilling and road closures for up to 12 months as construction of the NBN gets under way.
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NBN Co contractor Transfield Services this week began delivering a notice of construction work to houses and businesses in central Ballarat as it prepares to roll out fibre-optic cabling.
“Work is expected to commence in mid-November 2012 with completion of works scheduled for December 2013, subject to factors such as weather,” the notice says.
“Standard hours of work will be 7am-6pm Monday to Friday and 7am-1pm on Saturday.”
The notice also warns of possible footpath and road closures, digging and drilling in public spaces and noise and dust associated with the work.
Residents in construction areas have also been asked to park vehicles in their driveways rather than on the street.
Transfield Services said it would try to minimise disruption to neighbourhoods.
NBN Co also this week revealed another 3000 premises in Black Hill, Brown Hill and parts of Nerrina would be connected to the fibre-optic network.
Those suburbs will join Newington, Soldiers Hill, Ballarat North, Invermay Park, Eureka and Ballarat East to be the first in the region to get fibre-optic cables. Slower wireless NBN services went live in other areas around Ballarat earlier this year.
NBN Co community account manager Lalla Mackenzie said residents should look forward to being connected to the network.
“The release of these maps each month signals to residents and businesses that they are on the way to being able to take advantage of the benefits that the NBN offers,” she said.
“People will be able to make high-quality video calls with fewer drop-outs, download movies in minutes, stream TV and have all the family online at once.”
andrew.ramadge@fairfaxmedia.com.au