By Parker McKenzie
The Yarra Ranges is no stranger to natural disasters, with both destructive storms sweeping through and bushfires setting the green hills ablaze in recent times.
During bushfires, floods and storms, the resilience of the telecommunication network can prove to be the difference between life and death, which is why Yarra Ranges Council included the issue in an advocacy plan approved by councillors on Tuesday 13 September.
The council is advocating for “improved mobile connectivity in five key areas with low or no mobile service quality”, upgrading NBN broadband services from fixed wireless, satellite and FTTN to FTTP in key areas with slow broadband service and strengthening telecommunication network resilience during power outages and emergencies through “increased battery back-up at mobile towers and generator power for NBN nodes.”
An independent review of telecommunications infrastructure resilience during the 2019-20 bushfires by the Inspector General for Emergency Management found two key vulnerabilities: loss of power to mobile base station sites and pre-existing mobile black spots.
According to a report by Emergency Management Victoria, the storm weather event created the largest power outages in Victorian history, with 71 per cent of people who responded to a survey saying they lost access to at least one of power, internet or telecommunications.
Data, surveys and reports show the issue is a major one, so what has been done since the storms?
Connecting Victoria, the Victorian Government’s $550 million program to fast-track better mobile coverage and broadband access throughout the state, has yet to announce any projects to tackle the mobile black spots, poor internet coverage and telecommunications issues plaguing the region.
In late 2021 Yarra Ranges Council introduced 10 trial sites for fixed installations of NBN disaster satellite services throughout the Yarra Ranges.
The trials were funded through the Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disaster grant, a $37.1 million federal program.
Over the weeks leading up to the November 26 state election, the Star Mail will be exploring what needs to be done, where the candidates stand on the issue and how the Yarra Ranges can avoid being cut off during natural disasters.
