Mobile coverage for Copeton Dam remains a high priority for the Inverell Shire Council, assured mayor Paul Harmon on Monday.
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A new tower at Fig Tree Hill, which would provide coverage for the entire valley, is the first of eight mobile black spots to be identified by the council as priority locations for the fourth round of the federal government’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).
Other priorities include the co-location of infrastructure on the White Rock Mountain and Gilgai towers, and new towers on Gragin Mountain, Graman, Bukkulla, Bonshaw (Hetherington’s site) and at the ‘Pines’ site.
These will be submitted to the National Mobile Black Spot Database from which the federal government will then select locations to be advertised for carriers to build base stations.
“Council has always been advocating for better mobile coverage within our region,” Cr Harmon said.
“I’ve seen a number of ministers, federal and state come to Inverell to talk about mobile phone black spot areas, and of course nothing seems to really happen. We’ve had some improvement in some coverage, but of course (Copeton Dam) that is huge on our list.”
Cr Harmon noted that Copeton Dam caters to up to 10,000 visitors during the Christmas holidays, and that mobile coverage would improve their safety.
He was frustrated with the rigidness of the terminology in past rounds of black spot funding.
“If they want to be really prescriptive – (mobile black spot means that) there’s no mobile coverage there at all, whereas we know some of the towers that we’ve actually asked to be upgraded, we do have a little bit of mobile phone coverage, so therefore it hasn’t met all that criteria,” he said.
“I’m hoping for a bit of relaxing of that definition around ‘black spot’ and we actually talk about the fact of the benefits for our community. And I think that’s a little bit different with this program that’s been rolled out.”
The council will discuss this issue in their monthly meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26. Councillors will also debate whether the council will offer financial support for each nominated site in an effort to encourage carriers to submit a tender.
In previous rounds, the council offered a maximum of $20,000 contribution per site, for the construction of an access road to the tower site.
Naomi Shumack
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
