Minister for Regional Communications Bridget McKenzie and Federal Member for Forrest Nola Marino MP welcomed the announcement today of Telstra’s 300th mobile base station delivered under the Coalition Government’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program.
The new base station at Wellington Mill in Western Australia also marks the 100th base station delivered by Telstra in Western Australia alone.
“I congratulate Telstra on this fantastic milestone and for their strong engagement with the Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program. The community of Wellington Mill will benefit from new and improved mobile coverage throughout the area. Local residents will be pleased that coverage has been improved along Wellington Mill Road, a well-known black spot area,” Mrs Marino said.
Minister McKenzie said this latest switch-on demonstrates the momentum of our program, with the rollout of rounds 1 and 2 now passing the halfway mark.
“Hundreds of communities across Australia are already seeing the benefits of improved mobile coverage. We are connecting families, friends and towns to new coverage that otherwise may never have reached them without Commonwealth investment,” Minister McKenzie said.
The new base station is the latest of nine sites across the electorate of Forrest that are now receiving new or improved mobile coverage through the program. By the end of the program, a total of 19 sites are expected to be activated in the area.
“Our region is vast, and mobile black spots have been a real problem for some areas. These new base stations will help us to stay connected and ensure residents can stay in touch and access the services they need,” Mrs Marino said.
The Mobile Black Spot Program will continue to roll out this year with rounds 1 and 2 scheduled for completion in 2018.
“We’re delivering a total of 765 new base stations under rounds 1 and 2 nationwide and have committed more funding to address a further 106 sites in priority black spot areas,” Minister McKenzie said.
The competitive tender process for the Priority Locations Round closed in December 2017. The successful applicants and locations to receive funding are expected to be announced in early 2018.
For more information on the program visit: www.communications.gov.au/mbsp
Electorate of Forrest – round 1 and 2 outcomes to date
- To date, eight mobile base stations have been completed in the Federal electorate of Forrest and this is the ninth and the 300th for Telstra.
- A list of completed base stations is below.
- A total of 19 mobile base stations will be deployed in the Federal electorate of Forrest by Telstra under rounds 1 and 2 of the program.
| Round | Base station identifier | Base station | Applicant | Completed (yes) |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-028 | Darradup | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-032 | East Barrabup | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-038 | Ferguson Valley | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-063 | Lowden | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-081 | Nannup East | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-099 | Rosa Brook | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-100 | Rosa Glen | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-120 | Wellington Mill | Telstra | Yes |
| 1 | MBSP-WA-127 | Yallingup East | Telstra | Yes |