Canyonleigh residents will receive improved mobile phone coverage from a new mobile phone tower to be built at nearby Tarlo, in the Upper Lachlan Shire.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said Tarlo was one of 18 new or upgraded base stations to be built in Hume.

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

“The tower at Tarlo will be on a greenfield site and will extend partial or full mobile coverage to the surrounding areas of Canyonleigh, Middle Arm, Roslyn, Towrang, Bundanoon, parts of Goulburn, Bannister, Mummel, Big Hill and Greenwich Park.

“Towers across Hume will be located for maximum signal spread and the benefit will be shared by many of us because coverage will also extend along a number of roads and highway sections, including:

·         Crookwell Road – between Goulburn and Crookwell

·         Goulburn Oberon Road – between Goulburn, Taralga and Oberon

·         Goulburn Road – between Binda and Trunkey Creek

·         Oallen Ford Road – between Nerriga and Tarago

·         Range Road – between Bannister and Mummel

·         Sandy Point Road – intersection of Sandy Point Rd and Oallen Ford Rd

“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.