NBN node crushed by car twice in two weeks

NBN Co will consider permanently relocating an NBN node cabinet in Sydney's west that was taken out by a car accident for the second time in a fortnight.

File photo of NBN node cabinet.

The cabinet was knocked off its slab and crushed in early March when a car ploughed into it.

Reports at the time said the driver of the car escaped major injury in the accident, which knocked out internet services to about 280 homes.

Now, the same node cabinet has been taken out for the second time this month, meaning residents have largely been without fixed-line services for most of March.

"At approximately 12:30am this morning, an outage was caused following significant damage sustained to an NBN node cabinet in Kellyville," an NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews.

"NBN Co technicians attended the site this morning to make the area safe, as a priority, and to ascertain the extent of the damage.
 
"In order to restore services as soon as possible, the site will need to be rebuilt and the node replaced. it could take up to 48 hours before services are restored."

“Last night for the second time in two weeks a car has taken out an NBN box on Redden Drive, Kellyville,” Twitter user Gary said that the two accidents meant his house had "had no internet for most of March".

"Can the box be moved so it's not on a corner or an railing/bollards installed around it to protect it?” he said.

NBN Co confirmed it would consider permanently shifting the accident-prone node cabinet.

"An alternate location for the node is under consideration," the spokesperson said.

A new photo published by Twitter user Dave Cooper showed the node cabinet bent and on its side on the ground, reportedly after an accident on Wednesday night.

Cooper said another accident had occurred near the cabinet this morning.

2 weeks later and the Redden Drive #nbn node in Kellyville has been hit again and taken out. NBN and Firies on site. Something needs to be done @NBN_Australia and @TheHillsCouncil pic.twitter.com/OSzEdlad4v

— Dave Cooper (@DCoopes) March 21, 2018