WITH the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the Limestone Coast 99pc complete, new businesses and digital jobs are expected to boom in the region over the next three years.
The Mount Gambier Business Growth Opportunities report was compiled by the Regional Australia Institute and draws on the latest research from AlphaBeta’s study into the national economic and social impact of NBN.
Business leaders and digital stakeholders gathered at The Lakes Resort on Friday where NBN delivered the findings of the report.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the findings show the government’s NBN rollout is delivering real benefits to Mount Gambier and surrounding areas.
“The new report confirms the government’s NBN is opening the door to new business opportunities and jobs in the region,” Mr Fifield said.
“This is expected to support over 700 new businesses and create up to 2370 new digital jobs in the Mount Gambier area.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said while it was inevitable there will be jobs and businesses lost in other areas, the digital world was expected to produce a significant net increase.
“We are living through an unprecedented period of digital disruption and we acknowledge there will be some casualties on the back of the transformation to a digital economy,” Mr Pasin said.
“But what we are saying is that this new infrastructure will deliver 700 extra businesses – so for every business we lose, one will be created and then there will be 700 on top of that.”
Ashlee Lauren Designs has been identified as the perfect local case study for a small business in the region reaping the rewards from the faster broadband network.
“Ashlee Lauren Designs is a terrific business, which exports to the world and this is a business that is an example of the support NBN can provide,” Mr Fifield said.
“Before the NBN, Ashlee Lauren Designs relied on ADSL broadband, which was clunky, unreliable and did not deliver the speeds that a business connecting to the world needs.
“NBN coming to this business has meant they do not just take orders from customers in Australia, but they can also export to the world.”
Designer Ashlee Kalantarian said the switch over to the NBN network in August last year was seamless and has opened the doors for her company to increase its online presence.
“We did not notice any glitches when we started using this network and being able to upload things on social media sites and websites has been flawless,” Ms Kalantarian said.
“Because of the amount of work we have to do, all at the same time, it has just been ideal.”
Small and Family Business Minister Craig Laundy said it was a prime example of a small business using NBN to showcase her work on the world stage.
“The NBN and the link worldwide it gives people like Ashlee in her Mount Gambier garage to New York fashion week, what an amazing Australian story, that’s the reality of the infrastructure we are talking about here,” Mr Laundy said.
“The NBN will empower more people like Ashlee to give it a go.”
