The rollout of the multi billion dollar National Broadband Network (NBN) is the single largest nation building infrastructure project in our country’s history, and is expected to take up to eight years to complete.

NBN Co was established by the Australian government to design, build and operate the infrastructure that will enable enhanced broadband coverage to every Australian household, offering speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second to 93 per cent of the population and 12 megabits per second to the other 7 per cent.

Working across four states, Manidis Roberts has been instrumental in developing high level communications strategies, community consultation, environmental planning and creative solutions during the design, planning and construction phases of five ‘first release sites’ on mainland Australia and ongoing work in further sites.

As an integral part of the NBN Co team, we provided strategic advice and tactical expertise to support the initial rollout across four states including in Armidale and Kiama NSW, Townsville QLD, Willunga SA and Brunswick VIC.

The rollout across these five sites was crucial to the success of the national project, as it allowed NBN Co to use different network design and construction methods in areas that offer the varieties of geography, housing type, local infrastructure and population diversity that will be encountered across the rest of Australia.

Manidis Roberts played a key role in the success of the first release sites, designing and delivering a marketing and communications campaign to maximise the opt-in to the network. This included stakeholder advocacy, advertising and media relations, direct marketing and community awareness programs. Our key team members were regional spokespeople, representing NBN Co in local and state media.

During the construction phase we were integrated members of the client delivery teams, supervising and providing direction to contractors’ stakeholder relations activities to ensure NBN delivers a positive legacy to affected local communities.

We also provided extensive planning approvals advice at the commonwealth, state and local level. This assistance, initially focussed on immediate requirements for the first release sites, extended to identifying and recommending opportunities and approaches for the long term roll out of the project.

Manidis Roberts developed a community and stakeholder relations ‘handbook’ and a statutory planning contractors' guide to ensure best practice for the national rollout. We continue to support NBN Co and its contractors in the national rollout.