Both the council and NBN Co have created new staffing positions purely to monitor the maintenance work being conducted by the heavily criticised NBN contractors across the city. 

However, NBN Co spokesman Andrew Sholl said the company was  only made aware of around 500 notices at a meeting between the two organisations in May. 

Mr Sholl said NBN Co had employed a dedicated project manager for the Ballarat construction program to act as a single point of contact for council officers.

This is in addition to contractor Transfield employing another project manger just to deal with complaints made by the council at the May meeting. 

“This was a list of work on council property that it said wasn’t up to council standards, such as filling in potholes, restoring nature strips and correctly reinstating footpaths,” Mr Sholl said. 

“This work is carried out by sub-contractors working for Telstra and NBN Co on the rollout in the area.

“Since that meeting, more than 70 per cent of these issues have been rectified. 

“The crews are working steadily through the remainder at the same time we are broadening the rollout footprint in the region.”

City of Ballarat infrastructure general manager Eric Braslis said the new employee the council was hiring would be entirely focused on NBN works. 

“The City of Ballarat has met regularly with NBN Co to improve their practices and reinstatement standards,” he said. 

“The City of Ballarat has raised concerns regarding footpath and nature strip damage, and also discussed suggestions to better improve public safety of temporary repairs.” 

The works have previously been criticised by the Ballarat Heritage Advisory Committee for the impact they were having on heritage buildings across the city.

Residents have also voiced concerns about the shoddy workmanship of some contractors.

Mr Braslis said NBN Co would not be contributing any funding to the hiring of the employee, but the city had an agreement with the company for payment of a number of inspections undertaken by council staff. 

The position description clearly states the purpose of the position is to be involved with asset protection related to the NBN rollout across the city and “co-ordinating and undertaking surveillance of works on council land to ensure that council assets are protected and (reinstated) works meet council standards”.

matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au