Optus is working to manage the significant impact to Optus services that has occurred
as a result of a series of extreme weather events in the Central West and Forster region of New South Wales on or about Friday 28 November 2008 through to Saturday 29 November 2008.
Due to the effect of damage to the Optus telecommunications network, caused by large hailstones, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds, there has been a significant increase in the number of Optus services being reported as faulty. As a result, there has been disruptions to some services and delays to normal installation and repair activities. Optus apologises to any affected customers.
Information as to the nature of these severe weather events can be sourced from the
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds referred to in the BOM Severe Weather Warning issued for 27 November 2008 issued initially at 5:40 pm Thursday, 27 November 2008; which been widely reported in the news media since the events.
Optus has identified that the effect of these circumstances applies to approximately
230 services. This number may increase as Optus assesses the full affect of the extreme
weather conditions. Based on current information, the resumption date of normal service
operations is expected to be 05 December 2008. This date is indicative only; Optus customers should anticipate that some further delays may occur. Optus regrets any inconvenience caused to customers and thanks them for their patience while this work is being undertaken.
Optus services encompassed in this exemption are; in the area bounded by and including, but is not limited to the area starting at Moorland then south following the coast to Forster, Seal Rocks and Tea Gardens, then north to Gloucester, then west to Gundy, then south west through Denman to Olinda. From Olinda go south to Newnes, then north west to Stuart Town, then south to Euchareena, then south west through Canowindra to Greenthorpe, then north west through the Piney Range and Tullibigeal to Lake Cargelligo. From Lake Cargelligo go north through Bobadah to Girilambone, thennorth east to Wongalea and then east to Gwabegar then south east to Rocky Glen, thensouth to Binnaway, then east to Murrurundi, further east to Elands and south east backto Moorland.
All suburbs and towns serviced by Optus within these boundaries are encompassed in
this exemption.
Services in the area mentioned above with phone numbers in the following number
ranges may have been affected:
02 4994 7000 To 02 4994 7290 02 6822 1000 To 02 6869 9674
02 6358 8317 To 02 6379 8466 02 6881 6000 To 02 6898 2398
02 6541 0000 To 02 6559 3999 02 6972 9100 To 02 6972 9399
02 6571 1000 To 02 6577 8596 02 5310 6000 To 02 5353 8999
02 5355 0000 to 02 5355 0999 02 5355 2000 to 02 5355 3999
02 5591 3000 to 02 5591 4999 02 5591 6000 to 02 5591 8999
02 5804 8000 to 02 5806 0999
As these circumstances were outside of Optus’s control, Optus is claiming an extension
to time frames applying under the Telecommunications (Customer Service Guarantee)
Standard 2000 (No.2). This means that Optus is notifying customers that normal service
time frames may not be met during the period of 2 December 2008 to 5 December
2008 inclusive (based on Optus’s estimated recovery schedule correct at the time of
publication of this notice).
