HAWKESBURY GETS NBN FIRST FOR DISASTER RESILIENCE

The battle to keep the internet working during flooding has resulted in the Hawkesbury getting a new generator specifically designed to ensure people stay connected when the power goes down.

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said that the past floods have resulted in people who rely on the NBN wireless towers for their internet being cut off when the power switches off to the tower.

“In previous floods, we’ve had a number of sustained power outages at the Ebenezer Fixed Wireless Tower, which led to more than 1000 homes being without internet.

“Residents of Ebenezer, Sackville, Cattai and Lower Portland are all dependent on the Ebenezer tower staying powered,” Ms Templeman said.

“If it gets cut off during a flood, and can’t be refuelled, then all the other towers that connect to it lose signal. It’s the parent site of the network.

“Being unable to access the internet was hugely distressing for people, given it’s the
only way to communicate with neighbours or the outside world when you’re cut off by floodwaters.

“People might remember that during one of the floods, a resident was authorised to go in and refuel the generator; but we needed a better solution.

“So I am gratified that our pleas to NBN Co to look at a more resilient way of keeping power to the site have been listened to.

“The NBN Power Continuity Team have developed an original solution – one specifically designed for our community, which has a DC system embedded inside a 10kVA generator along with an extra fuel cell, to help charge the batteries and support the full site load.

“This will allow the site to be remotely switched to a generator in the event of mains failure, with enough fuel to run it for four weeks.

“It’s a game-changer for people who need to stay connected during a flood, or fire, or storm, and I congratulate NBNCo on listening to the needs of my community, and looking for an innovative solution.” 

The Ebenezer Fixed Wireless Tower is part of a network of towers that also includes Cattai East, Forest Glen Central, Maroota South, Simpsons Hill, Sackville East and Sackville North.