Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has announced that the electorate’s first new mobile black spot phone tower has been switched on at Werombi. “I’m delighted to confirm that the new Telstra tower at Werombi in Wollondilly Shire is the first of 18 towers in Hume funded under Round 1 of the Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme to be officially up and running,” Mr Taylor said. “This investment in telecommunications infrastructure is outstanding news for families, small business owners and local emergency services groups in that part of the Wollondilly.” Werombi resident and business owner Kim Hayter said there had been a definite improvement in his mobile phone reception since the tower was switched on a few weeks ago. “I can now make and receive phone calls while in my business. Previously this was not possible,” he said. Mr Taylor said three other new mobile base stations funded under Round 1 have also been announced for Wollondilly, to be located at Mount Hunter, Buxton and Nattai. He said would be keeping residents in these areas updated as the roll out of mobile phone towers funded under the first round progresses. Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme will deliver 18 new base stations in Hume with 74 of the 139 mobile black spots nominated in the electorate to be addressed by handheld or external antenna coverage (or both). Mr Taylor said the total funding package to Hume was about $10.41 million, including $2.76 million from the Federal Government. The full rollout across Australia will be completed over the next three years. Caption: Angus Taylor MP discussing the switching-on of the new mobile phone tower at Werombi with Communications Minister, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield while he was in the electorate recently.