PAGE MP Janelle Saffin and Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and The Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy will consult with business leaders, academics and health professionals in Grafton tomorrow (Friday, October 30).

Ms Saffin has invited Senator Conroy to visit the city during its famous Jacaranda Festival to outline future regional opportunities and benefits under the Rudd Government’s $43-billion National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout.

Ms Saffin said this ambitious project to wire up Australia for high speed broadband, which has already started in Tasmania, promised digital technology that would revolutionise our day-to-day activities and the way we do business on the North Coast.

“Southern Cross University’s Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Mike Evans, and its Professor of Information Technology, Peter Croll, have been building a strong case for the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast of New South Wales to be a high priority area for the rollout,” Ms Saffin said.

“An estimated 541,320 residents live in the 13 Local Government Areas from Greater Taree to the Tweed, and this prime sea change area is projected to grow faster than the state average.

“SCU, in collaboration with Coffs Harbour City Council’s Economic Development Office, believe that a robust telecommuting strategy will create resilient and connected communities in business, health care, education and in responding to natural disasters.”

Professor Croll will join Ms Saffin and Senator Conroy for a ‘working lunch’ at Georgie’s Café Restaurant in the Grafton Regional Art Gallery. Other community and business leaders attending include Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils Chair Cr Jenny Dowell, Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Keith Rhoades and Summerland Credit Union Chief Executive Officer Margot Sweeny.

Clarence Valley Mayor Cr Richie Williamson earlier will welcome Senator Conroy to his home village of Coutts Crossing.

The Minister will also pay a visit to Bonnie Capell and Tony Hattam at Computer Troubleshooters, Grafton, which has just been judged Franchisee of the Year from more than 100 stores in the Asia Pacific region. The couple operates a second store in Coffs Harbour.