A number of rural Queensland locations will benefit from last week’s announcement of the latest round of funding under the Mobile Phone Blackspot Program, which will see 76 new and upgraded base stations installed around the state, from an investment of nearly $60m.
They include Carnarvon Gorge in the Arcadia Valley, which will have three satellite small cell mobile phone base stations installed.
Carnarvon tourism advocate, Olivia Evans, Bandanna Station, said she couldn’t have been more excited when told the news.
“There’s been two important reasons why we need mobile phone coverage out here, and first and foremost is safety,” she said.
“There’s kilometres of walking tracks here in the national park and if someone gets injured we’ve had to rely on two-way radio, and it can take ages to organise help.
“Secondly, it’ll be a huge boost for tourism. Social media in particular is so immediate, and now people will be able to post an image of the Moss Gardens while they’re sitting at the Moss Gardens, rather than waiting four days until they leave the Gorge, when the moment’s gone.”
A joint Commonwealth-state government funding arrangement is making the program possible, along with Telstra, Optus and local councils.
Some 72 tower locations are being funded under round two of the national Mobile Black Spot Program, and a further four locations were successful in being awarded federal funding for Optus satellite small cells.
State minister for innovation, science and the digital economy, Leeanne Enoch, said providing mobile coverage at key points along remote roads was critical for locals and tourists alike.
“In this round of funding, for example, the Burke and Wills roadhouse (Four Ways) location in the Cloncurry shire will have improved mobile coverage with co-funding by the state government in partnership with three separate councils.”
The latest funding will benefit townships such as Injinoo, Ayton and Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland, locations in remote western shires such as Cloncurry, and in South East Queensland such as Kholo and Wongawallan.
Ms Enoch said townships such as Clarke Creek in central Queensland were now receiving mobile coverage to households, businesses, government services and the local school, as a result of round one funding, and residents in the Jambin area have improved mobile coverage, identified as critical for improved public safety in the wake of Cyclone Marcia in 2015.
Federal Maranoa MP, David Littleproud was among those happy to deliver the funding announcement, with his electorate to have 19 new or upgraded towers, including 10 in western Queensland, delivering increased connectivity.
“This investment has been targeted to address black spots to strengthen the transport network between Charleville and Cunnamulla at Mirrabooka, on the Mitchell Highway and the Bulloo Development Road,” he said.
“A black spot near Quilpie will also be addressed at the Diamantina Development Road.
“Communications between St George and Dirranbandi will be strengthened with investment at Bundoran Road and on the Castlereagh Highway.
“Black spots at Morven and Brucedate will be targeted, and on the Landsborough Highway between Longreach and Barcaldine, and another south of Tambo.”
In the Capricornia electorate, MP Michelle Landry was announcing six new black spot sites, including two towers in the Bungundarra district near Yeppoon, a tower at Stanage Bay Road in the Livingstone shire, at West Hill in the Carmila district, on the Gregory Development Road in the north west of the electorate, and on the Bowen Development Road in the Collinsville district.
The program has three funding rounds, with the 19 towers announced in round one installed to date in Queensland.
In addition to the 144 mobile base stations awarded to Queensland in the two rounds so far, at least 80 Telstra 4G small cells will be deployed throughout the state.
These were secured separately by the the state and Commonwealth governments in round one arrangements with Telstra.
A number of these locations were announced by the Commonwealth government in August, and the remainder will be finalised by the state in coming months.
For more information and a map of Mobile Black Spot Program Queensland base stations locations, visit www.qld.gov.au/MobileCoverage.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
