Reports have surfaced that the Bourke Shire Council, located in the north-west of NSW, has given approval to NBN Co to construct a solar power station to help power its satellite ground station at Bourke.
The ABC reported that Bourke Mayor, Andrew Lewis said the construction of the almost 2,000 square metre solar farm, consisting of 18 photovoltaic solar panels, will help NBN Co offset the facility’s power consumption.
The satellite will not directly service the Bourke area, which will eventually receive a fibre NBN connection, but is intended to allow people in remote areas to access broadband services.
The satellite station is expected to come online in 2015 and Mr Lewis says that although Bourke will not use the satellite infrastructure, the construction has provided benefits for the town’s economy.
