Working together Communities Taking Action on Communications

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Working togetherCommunities Taking Action on
Communications

• Phil Herrick
• General Manager
• Southern Phone Company

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Taking action on what?

• Not communications reallybut
• Unemployment
• Limitations on health care
• Limited education opportunities
• Higher cost of living
• Stimulating regional economic and social
  development

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Why?

• Eurobodallas unemployment was at 22 making it
  1 in NSW (along with Byron Bay)
• Caused by economic restructuring dairy, timber,
  government services
• Also caused by rapid coastal growth
• Tourism major industry followed by welfare
• Need to diversify and create new wealth

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Taking action how?

• By deciding that something can be done
• Identifying actions that can be taken
• Providing leadership and working together

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Our actions

• Eurobodalla Shire Council identified cheaper,
  better telecommunications as a means of achieving
  advances in social and economic development.
• Developed and led regional partnerships
• Then formed Southern Phone

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Councils role

• Catalyst and facilitator
• Building and maintaining strategic partnerships
• Secured funding

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A Word From Our Sponsors
Sale of first part of Telstra led to the
establishment of NTN
Eurobodalla Shire Council secures 4,773,000
ESC establishes Southern Phone now with 41
council shareholders
August 23, 2003
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Shareholding councils
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Outcomes to Date For Moruya

• A 21st century industry (telecommunications) has
  replaced a 19th century industry (sawmill)
• Jobs - 60 people now employed (sawmill had 20
  jobs) Unemployment now at state average.
• Economic stimulus to Moruya (pop 7,000) with
  annual payroll around 2 Million
• New century, new industry, new skills. Call
  Centre, telecommunications services,
  provisioning, infrastructure.

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Outcomes to date

• Lower telecommunications costs from competition
• All fixed line services.
• Mobile phone services
• Internet services
• Helping regional communities, anywhere in
  Australia
• Saving businesses money to create jobs.

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Can we do that?

• Each community has different opportunities. But
• Decide that something can be done
• Identify potential paths and actions that can be
  taken
• Provide leadership and work together

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• Contact
• Phil Herrick
• General Manager
• Southern Phone Company
• 8 Page Street, Moruya NSW 2537
• Ph. 02 44 747 100  Fax. [phone]
• phil.herrick_at_southernphone.com.au
• www.southernphone.com.au