The Mobile Carriers Forum has praised the Draft NSW Telecommunications Code including Broadband in its submission to the NSW Government during the Exhibition period which concludes today.

The Code is designed to help facilitate the roll-out of mobile networks across New South Wales and the delivery of the National Broadband Network.

The Code, and enabling amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007, were placed on Exhibition following an announcement in Parliament in early June by Planning Minister The Hon. Kristina Keneally.

In its submission the MCF has welcomed the Code as Exhibited and the greater certainty it provides for all stakeholders including carriers, councils and consumers.

When announcing the Exhibition process the Minister stated that “The Code is designed to make it easier to approve broadband telecommunications facilities that meet community needs, while at the same time having minimal impact on communities”.

“Our goals in this regard are in alignment and we encourage the NSW Government to adopt the Code with only minor variations to the Exhibited documents”, said MCF Program Manager Matt Evans.

The Code provides specific rules for heights, location and siting for some forms of infrastructure, and incentives for the carriers to meet these requirements. It fills a gap and ensures consistency of assessment across NSW’s 152 Local Government areas.