8 May 2014

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has pledged to work closely with local communities to find clever plans to fix mobile phone blackspots.

Mr Taylor hosted a visit to Boorowa and Wamboin this week by Federal Parliamentary Secretary on Communications Paul Fletcher, who is responsible for the Government’s $100 million Mobile Coverage Programme.

“I recognise this is one of the top priorities for people living outside the major centres across my electorate. At the Wamboin meeting there were residents from Murrumbateman, Windellama, Bywong, Bungendore, Sutton and Wamboin. At the Boorowa meeting on Tuesday we had representatives from Rugby, Frogmore, Murringo, Bigga, Rye Park, Bannister, Gunning, Gundaroo, Cowra, Reids Flat, Harden and Boorowa itself.

“Paul heard very clearly what the issues were around mobile blackspots. He heard from local medical specialists, small business owners, farmers and community organisations about the impacts on business. He heard from mayors, businesses and real estate agents about impacts on economic growth. He heard from financial counsellors, health professionals, parents and emergency services about the impacts on welfare and lifestyle.

“The main message back from Paul was that we needed to gather information which would make it easier for the telecommunications carriers to fix the problems; can existing television or RFS (Rural Fire Service) towers be used for mobile transmission, are landowners happy to grant road access to base station sites, can councils help with planning approvals. He said Government would look at putting money on the table as an incentive to the carriers – Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone - to bring plans to fruition. As he pointed out, the average cost to build a base station (or tower) from scratch is about $600,000 and this varies wildly depending on location. Infrastructure costs are a fraction of that, if a tower is already there.

“He also said the Mobile Coverage Programme will involve a competitive selection process later this year, amongst telecommunications carriers and in relation to potential sites. We need clever plans to leverage as much funding as possible from the carriers.

“I will work hard with councils, community groups and landowners to get the best result.”