By KATH GANNAWAY
EAST Warburton residents are being asked to complete a survey that will provide up-to-date information on the state of mobile reception in the area.
The East Warburton/Reefton Mobile Community Action Group will send out the survey form over the next week or so to around 500 homes, asking about the quality and reliability of mobile reception, including whether they receive the CFA’s ‘Fire Ready’ App.
The area has been identified as a mobile phone black spot which could attract funding under the Federal Government’s $100million Mobile Coverage Program.
Yarra Ranges Council and the Action Group, with the support of Casey MP Tony Smith, made a joint submission aimed at determining the shape and size of the black spot funding.
“The result of the discussions was that a submission would be made that would advance the credentials of East Warburton and of Steels Creek as the prominent candidates for black spot funds,” Action Group spokesperson John Harry said.
The East Warburton area, including Reefton and Big Pats Creek have been calling for improved mobile service since the 2009 bushfires, but Telstra has maintained the low volume of users would not generate sufficient return to the company.
Mr Harry said the argument that there was insufficient use is ‘mysterious’ depending on the ways used was measured.
“Nobody in our area or in Big Pats Creek uses their mobiles; they just don’t bother because the service is so bad, so the volume of traffic, and the demand is not measurable on that basis,” he said.
“Basically, the reason there is no activity, is because there is no service.”
Mr Harry said on high risk days because of the load on the CFA ‘Fire Ready’ App, the signal was extremely poor.
“Add in heat and smoke and the signal is further degraded and becomes non-existent.
“In effect, if there were a fire, almost nobody would get the signal and if looking at the mobile phone App, it’s just a waste of time and the same applies to satellite and wireless,” he said.
He said while $100million was not a lot of money in relation to the need throughout Australia, it was a start.
He said according to Telstra’s figures the cost of a tower upgrade for East Warburton would be around $1million.
“All this argument has been going on for 12 months now without any sign of progress with Telstra or the government, but at least we do have a pool of money earmarked,” he said.
He, however, said that what would not be a desirable outcome from that pool would be distribution to electorates throughout Australia of small amounts.
The survey aims to give real information on the existing state of the service, the need and the potential usage if a service was available.
Mr Harry urged residents to take the time to fill in the survey and return it.
