THE State Government has announced an additional $3 million in funding for remote telecommunications services.
An extra $2 million has been allocated for the $5.8 million Ngaanyatjarra Lands Telecommunications Project.
The federal Government ($2 million) will jointly fund the project, along with the Ngaanyatjarra Shire and Health Service ($1 million). The remaining $800,000 will be provided from existing State Government agency budgets.
“The Ngaanyatjarra Lands Telecommunications Project will bring improved basic and advanced telecommunications services to the 12 Indigenous communities in the area – the largest area being Warburton,” Development Minister Clive Brown said.
Also, an additional $1 million has been approved for the Kimberley Broadband Solutions program, which is designed to bring high-speed data services to Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Wyndam and surrounding communities.
The additional $1 million is on top of $700,000 from existing State Government agency budgets and local businesses and is contingent upon the Howard Government providing funding of $1.3 million through its Co-Ordinated Communi-cations Infrastructure Fund (CCIF).