Susan Templeman calls on the Government to improve NBN services in the Hawkesbury

Launched this week, the petition calls on the Minister for Communications and the Chief Executive of NBNCo to prioritise major townships across the Hawkesbury for the planned fibre overbuild, which will see Fibre To The Node (FTTN) connections upgraded to Fibre To The Premises (FTTP).

Ms Templeman, who is also the co-chair of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the NBN, said many areas of the Hawkesbury have been left off the initial list, despite areas like Castle Hill being among the first to receive the upgrade.

"After seven years and $57 billion, the Liberal Government has suddenly realised that FTTP is a faster, more reliable and more economical technology than copper. This is a start," she said.

"The complaints to my office during COVID have shown that our ability to run businesses, and work or study from home has been severely impacted by an under-performing NBN that uses old technology.

"This petition is calling on the Morrison Government and NBNCo to prioritise the Macquarie electorate - and particularly Hawkesbury townships like North Richmond, Grose Wold, Grose Vale, Kurrajong Hills, Kurmond, McGraths Hill, Freemans Reach, Wilberforce and Pitt Town - for the fibre overbuild.

"In addition, it urges the government to commit to a plan to upgrade to fibre the mish-mash of wireless and satellite NBN connections in our region."

Residents can sign the petition at tinyurl.com/y5vcbcop.