Plans for improved mobile coverage in Chum Creek, Kalorama and Mount Evelyn are underway after the Mobile Black Spot Program identified them as priority locations in the Yarra Ranges.
Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, and Federal Member for Casey, Tony Smith, have announced three new locations in Casey under the Priority Locations funding round of the program.
The news comes after earlier government funding delivered an operational tower in Steels Creek.
Following funding in round two, planning and preparatory works are already currently underway for towers in East Warburton, McMahons Creek and Reefton.
Mr Smith said it was great to see these areas receive improved mobile coverage especially in areas which were so isolated and bushfire prone.
“It’s fantastic to see that Chum Creek, Kalorama and Mount Evelyn are a step closer to receiving improved mobile coverage,” Mr Smith said.
Locals are only too aware of the coverage issues; so now it is up to the telcos to put up their best tenders,” he said.
So far the Coalition Government has committed $60 million to address 106 priority locations across the country that have been identified as having poor or no mobile coverage, on top of the 765 locations already being addressed under the first two rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
Minister Fifield opened the priority round today, calling on telecommunication companies to participate in a tender to build new towers and improve coverage in these locations.
“The Coalition continues to deliver more coverage to rural, regional and remote Australia,” Minister Fifield said.
“We’re already delivering 765 towers which will provide coverage for 32,000 homes and businesses, and now we’ll deliver coverage to even more regional Australians,” Minister Fifield said.
The government expects the tender process to be finalised by the end of the year, with the rollout of successful towers to commence early in 2018.
It is anticipated that the towers in East Warburton, McMahons Creek and Reefton should be operational sometime in 2018.
