Blackwood’s days as a black spot for mobile coverage are numbered, thanks to new infrastructure funding.
A new mobile base station will be constructed within the next three years as part of the federal government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot program announced last week.
The funding enables Telstra to plan to build a base station at Blackwood that will significantly improve the town’s fixed line, mobile and internet coverage.
The mayor of Moorabool council, Paul Tatchell, said he was thrilled with news of the funding.
“Council and the Blackwood community, and a host of stakeholders, have been relentless in advocating for this service, so it’s a great result – I’m just so pleased for the Blackwood community,” Cr Tatchell said.
“When the federal government’s mobile coverage program was announced, we were expecting fierce competition.
“More than three-quarters of the continent was eligible and more than 6200 locations nominated for the funding.
“However, the need was dire, so we developed a compelling case around public safety and emergency management, and worked pro-actively with the Blackwood community and a range of agencies.
“Working collectively, we did all we could to see that Blackwood’s needs were prioritised in this national scramble,” Cr Tatchell said.
He said there are about 39 Moorabool locations still needing better coverage, including Dales Creek, Greendale and Ballan.
The council has been urging residents to lobby for action for some time.
Federal MP Catherine King, Emergency Management Victoria commissioner Craig Lapsley and others helped push Blackwood’s cause, Cr Tatchell said.
He said the inclusion of Blackwood among the top three locations nominated by the Central Highlands mayors and chief executives forum was critical to their case.
“But, most of all, the work of the entire Blackwood community needs to be recognised. Their work with our economic development unit in co-ordinating a targeted direct mail campaign was instrumental in demonstrating to the government and the telcos that Blackwood just had to be on that list.”
Cr Tatchell said he looked forward to Telstra meeting with council staff in the near future to sort out the particulars.
“Telstra’s got to work out the rollout schedule in consultation with federal and state governments and it needs to go through the usual planning process, so the sooner we start this process, the better for all concerned.”
