National’s Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie said today more regions in the
electorate of Indi will benefit from new mobile base stations to improve mobile
coverage under round 2 of the Australian Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.
“I’m pleased to announce new coverage for the Baranduda Range, Beechworth – Wodonga
Road, Kevington, Mt Dom Dom, Omeo Highway, Tallangatta South, Tallangatta
Valley and Wandiligong.
“These areas are in addition to 30 round 1 locations for new or upgraded mobile base
stations throughout Indi announced earlier in the year, and further locations
under the Mobile Black Spot Program will be announced next year.
“For too long areas have struggled for mobile reception and the latest round 2
allocations will greatly assist with mobile reception throughout Indi,” Senator
McKenzie said.
Localbusinesses have applauded the new program. Andrew Embling, Stock and Station
Agent from Alexandra said he welcomed the phone towers and thanked the National
Party for putting this policy forward. Ben McDermott, Builder from Wangaratta
said it was great news pointing out it was very difficult to run a small
business with poor phone coverage. Peter Macallef from Indigo Valley said this is
welcome news for people in the region and will give families peace of mind.
“Round 2 of the Coalition’s Mobile Black Spots Program will deliver new or upgraded coverage to 6,300 premises and 17,700 square kms of new coverage via 266 new or upgraded towers. This includes 1900 kilometres of major transport routes.
Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Regional Communications, Senator
Fiona Nash said in total, Rounds 1 and 2 of the Coalition’s Program will
deliver new coverage to 32,000 homes and businesses across 86,000 square
kilometres including 7600 of major transport routes via 765 new mobile phone
towers.
Senator McKenzie said the locations for round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program were
selected following an appeal to the public to nominate black spots.
These locations were entered into the national map which was provided to mobile
network providers to assist them to develop funding applications. These were assessed
against the program guidelines by the Department of Communications and the
Minister accepted the Department’s recommendations without change.
“The new base stations in Indi are due to the efforts of the community in
identifying black spot locations and advocating for them to be fixed,” Senator
McKenzie said.
The locations of all of the 266 base stations can be found on the national map at www.nationalmap.gov.au.
More information about the Coalition Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program can be found at: www.communications.gov.au/mbsp