Superclinic coming to Coffs Coast

Prof Peter Croll, Professor of Information Technology and Information Systems in the School of Commerce and Management.

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• $7m super clinic for Coffs Harbour

WHEN Independent Rob Oakeshott doffed his hat to Julia Gillard, Coffs Harbour was virtually handed a GP Superclinic and Nambucca's water supply was guaranteed.

The biggest boost to the local economy however comes in the form of the National Broadband Network which is now back on the table for Coffs Harbour and will commence construction mid 2011.

Southern Cross University's Professor Peter Croll was scheduled to brief local businesses last night about the implications of having fast broadband here – the second major regional centre in NSW – but he postponed that briefing while the make-up of government was still pending.

Returning Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the government's national broadband rollout would be focused on delivering equity in wholesale pricing between regional and metropolitan Australia.

“Whether you're on the broadband in Tamworth or on the broadband in CBD Sydney, seeking to communicate with another business in CBD Sydney, the wholesale price for your broadband will be the same,” she said.

“What a transformation.”

During his campaign, Cowper ALP candidate Paul Sekfy said the Gillard Labor Government would provide ‘up to $7 million for the establishment of the Coffs Harbour GP Super Clinic as part of the funding for additional GP Super Clinics provided for in the 2010-11 Budget'.

Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said GP Super Clinics will also provide a quality setting to help train some of the 3000 nurses and 1300 GPs who will come on line as a result of Federal Labor's investments to address Mr Abbott's health workforce shortages.

Labor Senator Michael Forshaw, meanwhile, said the government would co-invest in a major water security project that ‘helps communities in the Nambucca region secure vital drinking water supplies'.

The new off-river water storage facility near Bowraville will drought-proof the shire.

At the other end of the scale, local lifesavers are celebrating a $270,000 guarantee to complete building works at the club's Park Beach base.