A petition from the Repton community has been presented to Federal Parliament by the Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Conaghan said the residents of Repton had reported some areas having little or patchy mobile telephone coverage for a number of years and last year's spring/summer bushfires illustrated just how important reliable mobile reception is in emergency preparation and response.
"I am advocating through the channels provided to me for improved mobile coverage and services for the Repton and Mylestom communities," he said.
"It is unacceptable for a community the size of Repton, with 700 residents, and an area with an extreme fire rating risk due to its proximity to Bongil Bongil National Park to have unreliable mobile coverage.
"Last year's bushfires brought this home: between 12-15 November 2019 New South Wales Rural Fire Service warned ember attacks could hit Repton and Mylestom.
"Repton Rural Fire Brigade members door-knocked every resident's house to warn them of this risk because there was no mobile service to be able to send bulk SMS messages.
"Fortunately for the community, the bushfire warnings did not eventuate.
"I want to see this area have reliable mobile coverage in the future and I will advocate for solutions through our Government's Mobile Black Spot Program and with telecommunication providers to try and achieve it."
Mr Conaghan spoke on the petition in the House of Representatives Federation Chamber on Tuesday afternoon.
The Australian Government has committed $380 million to date for the Mobile Black Spot Program and it works by identifying locations where mobile coverage could be improved and engaging with mobile network operators such as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to determine if co-investment in technology can be made.
To date, 1,229 mobile base stations have been funded across Australia in the Mobile Black Spot Program's first five rounds, worth a total of $850 million.
Pat Conaghan MP Federal Member for Cowper
1 September 2020 MEDIA RELEASE
A discussion paper on Round 5A of the Mobile Black Spot Program was on public exhibition in May-June this year. Public submissions on the design of Round 5A are currently being evaluated.
Round 5A will have a specific focus on improving mobile coverage in disaster-prone areas, improving coverage along major transport corridors in regional areas and trialling new technologies.
ENDS
Contact Media Officer: Liz Spry, Ph: 02 6652 6233 | 0418 928 744
