Families and businesses in Onkaparinga, South Australia, will be able to speak face-to-face with their Council from their living room or office, thanks to a new online planning and development service.

Senator for South Australia, Don Farrell, today launched the City of Onkaparinga’s new service, which is funded through the Rudd Labor Government’s Digital Local Government program.
The online service will enable development and building applications to be uploaded and tracked electronically, as well as the use of video conferencing to correspond with applicants.
“The NBN is helping put residents and ratepayers at the heart of local government service delivery – which is where they should be,” Senator Farrell said.
“Ultimately, this means better, more accessible, convenient and efficient services, delivered with less hassle for local residents.”
Senator Farrell also officially switched on the NBN in McLaren Flat, where 576 homes and businesses can now access NBN’s fast, reliable, and affordable broadband.
“I urge everyone who can to sign up to the NBN and embrace what the NBN has to offer,” Senator Farrell said.
Local Federal Member for Kingston Amanda Rishworth MP advocated to ensure residents and businesses in McLaren Flat would have access to fast and reliable broadband.
"I am delighted that McLaren Flat is the next community in Southern Adelaide to now have access to better broadband services, and it is great to see that work continues on the roll-out around the South so that everyone in our community has access to the National Broadband Network,” Ms Rishworth said.
“The funding announced today will also allow the local council to harness the National Broadband Network to deliver improved services for local residents.”
McLaren Flat digital consultant, Daniel Procter, said connecting to the NBN means he doesn’t have to move from the local area to grow his business.
“With the NBN we were able to stay put in our family home overlooking the vineyards and I can now start offering HD video-conferencing to support my clients all across the state, which means a two hour round trip drive to CBD clients is now a HD video-conferencing call over the NBN,” Mr Proctor said.
NBN fibre construction has commenced to 96,500 premises across South Australia, including Aldinga, Flinders, Gawler, Modbury, Onkaparinga, Port Augusta, Port Elliot and Victor Harbour, Prospect, Seaford, St Marys, Stirling, Strathalbyn and Yankalilla.
For more information about the NBN rollout in South Australia visit: www.nbnco.com.au/rollout
 
KEY FACTS 
NBN in Onkaparinga 

1. The NBN has been switched on to 576 homes and businesses. 

1. An additional 1,497 homes and businesses in the Onkapargina area are expected to go live in the coming months, bringing the total to 2,070 premises passed by fibre in Onkaparinga.

 
NBN in South Australia 

1. NBN fibre currently has construction commenced for more than 96,500 premises across South Australia. This includes: Aldinga; Flinders; Gawler; Modbury; Port Augusta; Port Elliot and Victor Harbour; Onkaparinga; Prospect; Seaford; St Marys; Stirling; Strathalbyn; and Yankalilla. 

1. NBN fibre construction will commence or be complete for 445,000 premises by mid-2016.