In the last few days a worker from Chorus has been checking all the properties around the village, in preparation for the UFB2+ broadband rollout. He told me the rollout here should be complete by around June 2019.
Faster broadband is quite exciting for those of us who use the Internet. I’ve personally found the Internet slows down when Waikawa Beach is full of visitors on holiday weekends for example.
As I chatted with the Chorus worker though I discovered that the rollout will cover the village, but then stop around 40 Strathnaver Drive. Folks in the Strathnaver area (including me) won’t be getting coverage.
I’m afraid I forgot to ask about the Emma Drive area, but the coverage map doesn’t seem to show that area being upgraded either. Make sure you zoom in fully on that map as when zoomed out the coverage is misleading.
The worker I spoke with said that in other places people have had success in asking for the coverage to be extended. If you live in an area near but beyond the proposed coverage area at Waikawa Beach you might like to contact Chorus directly. Even if you personally don’t want faster Internet (or perhaps any Internet) it would help those who do.
In response to my query Chorus said:
I looked into your address and we won’t be able to put you onto the UFB2 as you are too far out of the township, but what you can look into doing is a community upgrade request, so you can speak with your local council to see how much it would cost to get better services put in. It would be worth to speak with your neighbours and people close by to see if they would be interested.
Kind regards
Ethan
Service Delivery Coordinator