Young district residents will receive improved mobile phone coverage from new mobile phone towers to be built at Murringo, Koorawatha and Binalong.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said 18 sites in Hume would receive a new or upgraded base station.

“After we mapped the electorate to show government and telecommunications companies where the black spots were and where to best locate new towers, Hume has done particularly well,” Mr Taylor said. 

“The tower at Murringo will be one of half a dozen in the broader Young, Koorawatha and Cowra areas which will extend mobile coverage to a number of local communities including Bendick Murrell, Bumbaldry, Godfreys Creek, Koorawatha, Murringo and Binalong.

Murringo resident Tricia Mack said it would make life so much easier. “We all jumped for joy when we heard the news. To have service here will be fantastic, especially if there’s an emergency or something on the road. Everybody appreciates what Angus has done, he has really helped us out,” she said.

Mr Taylor said towers across Hume would be located for maximum signal spread and the benefit would be shared by many, because coverage would also extend along a number of roads and highway sections, including:

·         Murringo Road – between Boorowa and Young

·         Olympic Highway – between Wattamondara and Koorawatha

·         Grenfell-Orange Road – between Grenfell and Gooloogong

·         Lachlan Valley Way – between Cowra and Boorowa

·         Merriganowry Road – between Lachlan Valley Way and Canowindra Rd

·         Burley Griffin Way – between Harden and Bowning

“In total, 74 of the 139 mobile black spots nominated in Hume will receive coverage via handheld phones or via an external antenna on the roof or car (or both). The total funding package to Hume is $10.41 million, including $2.76 million from the Federal Government under the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

“We will be dramatically improving mobile phone coverage across a vast area of the electorate and I am delighted to be able to share such good news,” Mr Taylor said.

He said in addition to the $100 million in Commonwealth funding for Round 1 of the national programme, a further $60 million had been announced for Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme, and Telstra had committed to build 200 new 4G mini base stations, to offer further opportunities to fix mobile black spots.