Media contact: Jane de Gault 0419 818 956
Reference: 315/2009
Telstra’s broadband win
14 October, 2009 - Telstra’s Broadbanding the Top End project took out a prestigious Australian
Institute of Project Management award in Adelaide last night, receiving the national award for best
‘Construction/ Engineering project with a total budget of less than $100m’.
This win is on top of the Arnhem Land project being judged the AIPM Northern Division’s ‘Project of
the Year’ and best ‘Construction/ Engineering project with a total budget of less than $100m’ in the
Territory in September.
The $34 million project saw 800 kilometres of fibre optic cable laid between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy;
connecting 8,000 people living in northern Arnhem Land to the nation’s fibre optic backbone and
world class, high speed broadband.
The Arnhem Land fibre backbone project was completed in December 2008 and work on spurs to
service four off-shore communities, is on track for completion in late 2009.
The project received funding support from the Northern Territory Government and Rio Tinto Alcan
and the Northern Land Council was instrumental in ensuring Traditional Owners and communities
were consulted throughout the project.
Mr John Gibbs Executive Director Network Construction accepted the award on behalf of Telstra.
“This award recognises the considerable project management capabilities of our team at Telstra. This
project was complex with a detailed scope of work and was successfully delivered in a challenging
and remote environment.
“The opportunities from the laying of the cable for residents of these remote communities, for local
businesses, for schools, for the mining community, and for health care centres are significant,” Mr
Gibbs said.
The project is also a finalist in the World Communication Awards in the category of ‘Best Project
Management’. The winner of this award is to be announced at an event held at The London Hilton on
Park Lane on 25 November.
Two other Telstra projects were also listed in the AIPM finals – the Port of Melbourne Corporation
Asset Relocation project in the Small Projects category and the Black Saturday Bushfire Response in
the Regional Development category.
Attachments:
Arnhem Land Fibre Project Fact Sheet
Arnhem Land Fibre
Fact Sheet -...
Project photographs:
Radar Site Visit
093.jpg (714 ...
Radar Site Visit
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