Moorabool council is urging Blackwood residents to lobby for the money to improve the area’s “atrocious” mobile phone coverage.
Mayor Paul Tatchell said that with Easter around the corner and more visitors flocking to the town, it was crucial that Blackwood get money under the federal government’s $100 million mobile coverage program.
Cr Tatchell encouraged residents to contact their telecommunications companies to lobby for Blackwood to receive funding.
“Mobile coverage in Blackwood, which we all know is a high-risk bushfire area, is atrocious and dangerous,” Cr Tatchell said. “We’re asking the community to get behind the push to demand better service.”
Cr Tatchell said Blackwood was a popular year-round tourist spot, with thousands of visitors in peak times such as Easter.
“With all that comes the fact that all these extra people, along with the locals, will not have mobile phone coverage and no one will have access to the FireReady app, online maps, the CFA website and no ability to receive emergency alerts,” he said.
“We want locals and tourists to enjoy this beautiful town without having to worry about their lives being in danger in an emergency.”
Cr Tatchell said he hoped visitors and tourists alike would contact their local members of parliament, as well as “telcos”, to lobby the government on their behalf.
“Telecommunications companies are being asked to submit an expression of interest to the government nominating areas that need funding under this program, so we want the community to make it known to Telstra, Optus or Vodafone Hutchison Australia just how desperately this is needed in Blackwood,” Cr Tatchell said.
“If we can convince the federal government to build some mobile infrastructure in our shire, it becomes feasible for the commercial operators to provide a mobile service in areas they have previously ignored.”
Anyone who wants to help the council’s push can obtain a pro forma letter to send off by contacting 5366 7100.
To hear and answer concerns about the issue or any other issues in Blackwood, Moorabool council representatives will be at a public forum at Blackwood Hall from 6.30 tonight.
