No NBN for three and a half years
National Broadband Network fibre optic services are not expected to be available on the Peninsula for at least three and a half years, with parts of the Peninsula not getting services before July 2016 - over four years away.
Despite our front page report last issue stating that the rollout on the Peninsula starts this month, work will not actually start on the Peninsula under the first three year rollout plan until September 2014 at the earliest, with work on some parts of the Peninsula not starting within three years at all, according to the NBN company website.
"We will commence work in your area from September 2014 in phases with last work scheduled to commence in June 2015," the website stated.
"It is estimated that the average time from work beginning to NBN services being available is 12 months."
The Peninsula News report stated incorrectly that work in listed Peninsula areas would start between April 1 and June 30.
The report was based on a media release from the Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O'Neill, which included Gosford and other areas within her electorate where work is expected to start this month.
The media release stated that work would start in all listed areas up to June 30, 2015. The year was omitted from our report.
It also referred readers to the NBN website. This reference was also omitted from our report.
"We were wrong to omit these details from our report," said Peninsula News editor Mr Mark Snell.
"These details were not included in the item I was editing," he said.
"We ask that items submitted to Peninsula News are just about the Peninsula. We do not cover areas beyond our own locality.
"All items submitted are vetted for relevance to our Peninsula readers before they are forwarded to me.
"Any references to areas outside the Peninsula are removed and sections are rewritten in an attempt to ensure statements accurately reflect plans for the Peninsula.
"In this case, our process failed and relevant details were also removed."
Mr Snell said the media release from Ms O'Neill's office was, nevertheless, misleading in that services under the so-called "first three year rollout plan" were not actually expected to be available on the Peninsula for up to four and a quarter years, and work in some parts of the Peninsula would not start within three years.
Peninsula News put in a request with Ms O'Neill's for clarification of timing of the work on the Peninsula for this edition.
No response had been received before we went to press.
"The bottom line is that, in this case, I did not apply the maxim: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," said Mr Snell.
"A rollout of NBN on the Peninsula starting this month was just too good to be true.
"I did not double check the facts. I should have.
"I take full responsibility."
Mark Snell, 13 Apr 2012
Website, 13 Apr 2012
National Broadband Network