Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is pleased with the announcement of 10 new sites in Grey under Round 5 of the Mobile Black Spots program.
“In Grey, Round 5 will be funding the delivery of 10 sites valued at $2.6 million, including a Commonwealth contribution of $1.2 million,” he said.
“Successful sites under Round 5 in Grey include Farina, Fowlers Bay, Koonibba, Leigh Creek Copley, Leigh Creek township, Lyndhurst, Mudamuckla, Nundroo and Yongala.”
“Improved mobile coverage will help family and friends connect, access quality education and health services, do business globally and very importantly mobile coverage in these areas will be a huge bonus to the tourist industry,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Increasingly tourists are not prepared to venture into areas without phone coverage and this will provide cover in some of the most remote parts of Grey.”
To date the Australian Government has committed $9.4 million under the program in the electorate of Grey to deliver new and improved mobile coverage with a national investment of $300m over the five rounds and a further $80m commitment for Round 6.
In Grey the Commonwealth’s funding has leveraged a total investment of $27.7 million, including co-contributions from the mobile carriers, state and local governments, and community organisations funding 49 mobile stations across Grey. Thus far 25 are operational.
The Government has announced it is commencing the design process for the next round of the program, Round 5A. The Government has released a discussion paper to consult on options for the design of this round. This round will use the remaining Round 5 funds to continue to expand and improve mobile coverage for regional and remote Australia.
The discussion paper is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications’ website at www.communications.gov.au/mbsp.
Submissions are due to the Department by 5pm 12 June 2020.
The $80 million Round 6 of the program will commence after Round 5A. Round 6 will build on lessons learnt from Round 5A and earlier rounds of the program.
Round 5 base stations are scheduled to roll out in the coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 0417827523 April 21, 2020
