East Gippsland link nears finish line
Wednesday 8th February 2006
More than 120km of the 136km link between Traralgon and Bairnsdale has been constructed following a burst of intensive work over the past several weeks.
Construction crews worked through Christmas laying the optical fibre cable at an average of more than 4km a day to meet tough deadlines. Construction started in mid-December.
The link is an aerial build. The optical fibre cable is being strung from power lines. The fibre has also been laid undergound over short distances. Dedicated project management, well drilled construction crews and regular audits are resulting in high quality fibre infrastructure.
With more than 90% of the build now finished, we expect physcial construction and testing to be complete before the end of March.
This major capital project is a co-investment between VERNet, a State agency and a power company. The project is part funded through a SII grant from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST).
The construction is being undertaken by Bilfinger Berger Services, a major construction company. Mingarra Services is undertaking project design and on-site management.
The Traralgon to Bairnsdale link will form an important part of VERNet's inter-campus network in eastern regional Victoria. It will also extend the national research and education network backbone, AREN, east from Loy Yang.
VERNet is planning to extend the link eastwards another 40km to Lakes Entrance.
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