Media Release: Monday 30th August 2004

Balkanu features in Sectorwide

Queensland Government states "jobs boost for Cape York".

Public Works, Housing and Racing Minister Robert Schwarten said he was delighted to be part of the official signing of a five-year arrangement between Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and Optus.

Department of Public Works Director of ICT Infrastructure John Spinaze said the agreement committed Optus to providing $420 000 a year for the next five years for training Balkanu employees.

"Local Indigenous people throughout Cape York will be trained to install and maintain broadband telecommunications infrastructure. Through this process, ICT skills will be passed along to more members of Indigenous communities.

"There is a real interest in this work and quite a number of Indigenous people already are skilled and interested in ICT. This latest training will go a long way towards boosting job growth in Cape York communities," John said

Project manager Peter McDermott said Balkanu was the preferred subcontractor to telecommunications carriers supplying broadband services to the Queensland Government on Cape York. This agreement rested under the SmartNet arrangement.

"It's a real win for remote areas. There is a confidence that it will lead to a more skilled Cape York that can provide ongoing and long-term maintenance to telecommunications in the region," Peter said.

"cydn has created a world class ICT facility in Cape York" says cydn's Community Manager Ms Sue Connolly. "However because Cape York has a low economic base, continued support by government is required. We would encourage the Queensland government to utilise cydn's services to achieve greater productivity in the delivery of government services into the Cape. For instance, use videoconference as an effective substitute for travel. By videoconferencing, we get more access to government and government has the opportunity to communicate its priorities and actions, at a reduces cost. Everyone benefits".

For more information visit www.cydn.com.au

Contacts:
Sue Connolly: Community Manager,
Cape York Digital Network: 0427 755 738

Background:

CYDN is a project under Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation funded by the Federal Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts through the Networking the Nation fund. It is part of the Outback Digital Network, a federation of indigenous communications organisations. www.odn.net.au