FEDERAL Member for Lyne, David Gillespie is lobbying for a piece of the Abbott Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Program pie to enhance mobile base stations in three areas of the Mid North Coast.
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The Wauchope township and King Creek area were two of some 6000 locations in outer metropolitan, regional and remote Australia, which have been nominated by Australians as having inadequate mobile coverage.
Dr Gillespie hosted a Communications Forum in Wauchope on Wednesday to highlight to Federal Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher, the region’s mobile telecommunications priorities which include the Oxley Highway around Mt Seaview and the North Haven and Comboyne areas.
The forum was also an opportunity to discuss the National Broadband Network (NBN) and other programs to improve telecommunications infrastructure.
“While the mid-north coast’s urban centres do have generally good mobile phone coverage, there are still many areas that have patchy, unreliable or non-existent coverage, and it is the Coalition’s intent to address these outstanding problem areas,” said Dr Gillespie.
Mr Fletcher is responsible for implementing the program designed to improve mobile phone coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters as well as addressing problem areas with high seasonal demand.
“I have made submissions to the Department of Communications on these (Black Spots), though it is very reassuring that Paul Fletcher can spend time in the Hastings Valley to hear first-hand from a range of constituents and community representatives s to exactly what needs to be done with the available funds,” said Dr Gillespie.
Mr Fletcher conveyed the government’s commitment to improving communication networks across the country and in particular regional and remote Australia.
“These meeting s are important for Malcolm Turnbull (Minister for Communications), to understand the mobile and broader communication needs of Australia,” said Mr Fletcher.
The Government’s $100 million will be allocated through a competitive selection process that is expected to leverage at least an additional $100 million in investment from bidding parties, state governments and local councils.
“Following this competitive selection process the government expects that between 250 and 300 new mobile phone base stations will be built around the country,” said Mr Fletcher.
“It is important to understand that, although 6000 locations have been nominated, this does not mean that there are 6000 locations where a new base station is required.
“Initial analysis suggests that in many cases the nominated locations are within a few kilometres of another nominated location, meaning that one base station may be able to provide coverage to multiple nominated locations.”
The Government will shortly commence the competitive selection process, with a view to announcing the locations which have been selected for funding in the first half of 2015. The first base stations funded under the program are expected to begin to roll out in the second half of 2015.
BREAKOUT STORY
THE Communications Forum attracted residents from Bonny Hills, Rawdon Island and Mt Seaview as well as representatives from NSW Fire and Rescue, Chamber of Commerce reps from Wauchope and Camden Haven and the Australian Workers Union.
Locals told of their experience with the mobile phone network.
In particular it was noted that the issue of mobile phone Black Spots was jeopardising the local tourism industry.
Ralph Clissold from Mt Seaview Resort told of the impact poor mobile phone coverage was having on business.
“For five years we have been trying to get simple mobile service for the upper Hastings area,” said Mr Clissold.
“On average we have lost 50% of conference opportunities because people who are coming to stay expect to have decent reception”.
“We feel that the Upper Hastings Valley has been a forgotten part of Australia”.
Veronica Richards from Bonny Hills doesn’t get coverage in her home and her internet speed is frequently slow.
“I want to get a smart phone but I wouldn’t while I can’t get any coverage,” she said.
“My friends say they have sent me messages and three days later I will be in town and all these messages will come through”.
Other resident spoke of black spots on the Pacific Highway, Lake Cathie, Camden Haven and Kendall and a representative from NSW Fire and Rescue highlighted the safety issues of having poor or non-existent radio and mobile phone coverage.
“We are one of Australia’s fastest growing areas and the mobile phone coverage is very ordinary,” said NSW Fire and Rescue Zone Commander David Gray.
“A lot of our responses to situations and hazard material spills occur on the highway and out in remote areas and not having radio or mobile connectivity leaves us and the community at risk”.
