Joint Release: Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government Mark Coulton MP and Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson – People living and travelling through Barwon Downs will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay in contact with family and friends.
The new mobile base station will significantly improve mobile coverage to the township and surrounding area.
Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton said the Morrison Liberal Government is committed to improving connectivity for people living in regional and rural areas.
“The improved service is thanks to the Morrison Government’s $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, which is eradicating phone black spots across Australia,” Minister Coulton said.
“This government knows how frustrating it is to be talking on the phone and then lose service, so we’re getting on with the job of building more phone towers to deliver better service.
“Not only will these towers make it easier for people to stay connected to family and friends, it will also make it easier to do business and access education.”
Minister Coulton said the first four rounds of this highly successful program are funding 1047 new base stations in areas that are not commercially viable without Morrison Government investment, with more than 750 of them already online delivering benefits.
“More than 35,000 Triple 0 calls have so far been made possible through the Mobile Black Spot Program,” Minister Coulton said.
Senator Sarah Henderson said she was pleased that local residents and businesses would now have better service in more locations.
“The issue of poor service in and around Barwon Downs has been raised with me by many people. I’m pleased to be part of a government that is listening and delivering,” Senator Henderson said.
“Our continued investment in mobile phone base stations is further proof of the Morrison Government’s commitment to connecting Australians, wherever they are.
“Across Corangamite, we have delivered funding for 21 mobile base stations to fix mobile blackspots including along the Great Ocean Road and in the Otways including in areas of high bushfire risk,” said Senator Henderson.
An additional $160 million in new funding was announced earlier this year to continue to improve phone service for people in Australia’s regions.
More information about the program is available at communications.gov.au/mbsp.
5 November 2019