Agents slow to spruik fast broadband
Few estate agents working in regions that are the first recipients of the government’s National Broadband Network are promoting it in their listings.
Those who are mentioning it are taking a long-term view to it adding value to connected properties over time.
Kiama Downs and the township of Minnamurra – about 120 kilometres south of Sydney – were among the first sites on the mainland to benefit from the rollout of the government’s super-fast wholesale broadband project.
Realestate.com.au lists 406 properties for sale in the Kiama region, and just five of these mention having access to the fibre-based network as one of the features of the property.
Robert Perea from Raine & Horne Kiama is promoting the NBN in his listings.
But he says its “early days” regarding the NBN in the Kiama area.
“The NBN, while generating interest, is a great service, but I don’t believe will adversely affect prices in the area of interest in this listing or future listings,” he says.
Agents Joe Dingham and Neil Campbell from Ray White Gerringong, about 10 kilometres south of Kiama, both mention access to the broadband network in their listings at 240 Willowvale Road (pictured below) and 46-48 Renfrew Road (pictured above).
Dingham tells Property Observer although no one as yet has contacted him specifically to enquire about the NBN he expects it will definitely add value to properties.
Eight of the 145 properties in Willunga, about 50 kilometres south of Adelaide, listed for sale on realestate.com.au mention broadband in their write-ups.
Deborah Tucker from Raine & Horne McLaren Vale is selling four lots of land at Magnolia Court, 5 Norman Road, Willunga between $285,000 and $295,000.
She writes: “NBN - (the fast broadband) has been brought to the entrance to Magnolia Court - ready for future connections.”
Neville Brown from Michelmore Ollwitz First National is selling a two-bedroom house at 13 Waverley Drive, Willunga, asking $700,000. He mentions the house being “National Broadband Network connected” as one of its features.
Brown told Property Observer that while no prospective buyers have enquired about the NBN, he believed it would be a distinct advantage once there is more awareness.
Internet provider Internode recently reported that its first NBN customer, freelance photographer Paul Gosney and his family, relocated from Sydney to Minnamurra after learning that it would one of the first release sites for the network.
Gosney says the NBN will make it easier for him to send files overseas for post-production.
Not everyone is singing the NBN’s praises.
Opposition spokesman for communications and broadband Malcolm Turnbull has expressed concerns about the government stringing fibre cables overhead rather than underground in a bid to save money on the multibillion-dollar project.
“My fear is that as the NBN faces blowouts in both the cost and time taken to complete the project, the overwhelming urge will be to override the wishes and interests of local communities and string fibre overhead,” Turnbull says.
“[Broadband Minister Stephen] Conroy has already sacrificed economic responsibility in his rush to build this network, now he is going to trample over the rights of local communities to have a say in the preservation of their own environment and local amenity.”
The other towns where the NBN has been rolled out are Armidale in NSW, the whole of Tasmania, parts of Brunswick in Melbourne; and parts of the Townsville suburbs of Aitkenvale and Mundingburra.
Midway Point, an outer suburb of Hobart, was the first location to get NBN access in August last year. Out of the 312 properties Midway Point listed on Realestate.com.au, 15 mention access to the fibre-based network.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley says consumers should know by Christmas whether they will get access to the broadband network within in the next three years.
Main picture courtesy of Tourism New South Wales
