Development Application part 2 Planning Report MCU13/0051

3.0               SITE SELECTION
Planning for a new fixed wireless broadband facility is a complex process. NBN                   Co
conducts a rigorous multi-stage scoping process, as outlined below.


3.1       Identification of areas requiring Fixed Wireless coverage

The NBN Co Fixed Wireless locations will be determined by a number of factors including
the availability of both the NBN Co Fibre transit network and the availability of Point of
Interconnect (POI)facilities to allow for the installation of NBN Co equipment. NBN Co
uses a    number of methods to identify those parts of Australia that require Fixed Wireless
coverage. When an area is identified as requiring Fixed Wireless coverage, investigations
are undertaken to determine the measures required to provide this coverage.



NBN Co has identified a requirement to provide a fixed wireless facility in Cooran. The
facility will provide Fixed Wireless coverage to dwellings in the Cooran area, in addition to
serving as a key communications link for other NBN Fixed Wireless facilities in the wider
Sunshine Coast region.


3.2       Site Selection Parameters

NBN Co identifies an area where the requirement for a Fixed Wireless broadband facility
would      highest, a ’search area.’ A preliminary investigation of the area is then
          be
undertaken, in conjunction with      planning and property consultants, radiofrequency
engineers and  designers in order to identify possible locations to establish a facility.

Generally, new sites must be located within, or immediately adjacent to, the identified
search  area in order to be technically feasible. However, while the operational and

geographical aspects of deploying new facilities are primary factors, there are also many
other issues that influence network design, which have to be resolved in parallel.


Some of the issues that are considered include:
      .   visual amenity
      .
          potential co-location opportunities
      .   the availability and suitability of land as well as a willing site provider
      .
          occupational health and safety
      .   construction issues (including structural and loading feasibility and         access   for
          maintenance purposes)
      .   topographical constraints affecting network line of site
      .
          legislative policy constraints
      .   environmental impacts
      .   cost implications.


The number, type and height of facilities required to complete the Fixed Wireless network
are  largely determined by the operational, geographical and other factors discussed
above, which influence final network design. These compounding factors often severely
restrict the available search area within which a facility can be established to provide
reliable Fixed Wireless broadband to a local community.


Figure 3.1 below, depicts the ’search area’ (in red) that was identified to provide the most
appropriate coverage levels for the Cooran area.




NBN-4TNZ-41NN-5104    -   Cooran                                        Page 8