Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan today said mobile phone coverage across the Northern Rivers and Clarence Valley will radically improve with an $8.1 million investment to fix 91 local black spots.
Mr Hogan said under the Federal Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spots Programme 11 new or upgraded base stations will be funded in the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers.
The new or upgraded towers will be located at Babyl Creek, Bentley, two at Bonalbo, Copmanhurst, Ettrick, Hernani, Lower Peacock, Nymboida, Culmaran Creek and Pirora.
“This is a great outcome for our community with a total of $8.1 million to be invested on new or improved mobile coverage across the Northern Rivers and Clarence Valley,” he said.
“For far too long, our community has been frustrated by calls dropping out or simply no signal,” Mr Hogan said. “The poor coverage was hurting our local businesses, prevented families from easily community with each other, and crucially made communications difficult in times of emergencies.”
“I have been a passionate advocate for better mobile coverage and I am pleased that our mobile phone coverage will now improve.”
When the Government announced its Mobile Black Spots Programme to extend mobile phone coverage and competition in regional Australia, Mr Hogan immediately arranged for the responsible minister to visit his electorate to see the problem first hand.
“We were one of the first, if not the first, regional places the minister visited and I arranged meeting so he could hear directly from local businesses and households about the problems they faced. One local business had to drive 200 metres up the road to get reception.”
During this consultation phase, local residents were asked to nominate blackspots.
The black spots that will be fixed are at Afterlee, Alstonville, Angourie, Babyl Creek, Ballina. Bean Creek, Bentley, Bingeebeebra Creek, Black Rocks, Blaxlands Creek, Bonalbo, Boomi Creek, Boorabee Park, Bottle Creek, Boundary Road, Cambridge Plateau, Casino, Cedar Point, Codrington, Collins Creek, Copmanhurst, Culmaran Creek, Doubtful Creek, Dyraaba, East Lismore, Eden Creek, Edenville, Ellangowan, Ellis Road, Ettrick, Evans Head, Fairy Hill, Ghinni Ghi, Goonellabah, Gorge Creek, Grafton, Green Pigeon, Hernani, Iluka, Iron Pot Creek, Joes Box, Junction Hill, Kyogle, Leeville, Little Back Creek, Lower Bottle Creek, Lower Duck Creek, Lower Dyraaba, Lower Peacock, Mylneford, Nymboida, Old Bonalbo, Paddy’s Flat, Pagans Flat, Peacock Creek, Pearces Creek, Pines Road, Piora, Rous, Rous Mill, Ruthven, Sandilands, Sextonville, Shannon Brook, Smiths Creek, South Arm, South Gundurimba, Tabulam, Therese Creek, Tooloom, Toonumbar, Toonumbar Dam, Tucki Tucki, Tunglebung, Upper Duck Creek, Whiteman Creek, Wollongbar, Woolners Arm, Wooloweyah, Wyrallah, Yabbra and Yamba.
Also black spots will be fixed on Bagotville Road between Bagotville and Coolgardie, Bentley Road between Bentley and Boorabee Park, Evans Head road between Evans Head and Woodburn, Lindendale Road between Lindendale and Chesworths lane, Sheppard Street between Tallowood Ave and Canning Drive and Summerland Way between Grafton and Junction Hill.
In addition to the $100 million of Federal Government funding for the first stage of the programme, a further $60 million in funding has today been announced for Round 2 of the programme.
To nominate a black spot for the second round, email mobilecoverage@communications.gov.au
