NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has welcomed an announcement from Deputy Premier Troy Grant yesterday that a re-elected NSW Government would contribute $25 million to install more mobile phone towers in reception ‘black spots’ across country NSW.
Mr Marshall said this would be the first time in the state’s history that the government had partnered with the Commonwealth to improve regional mobile coverage.
“This funding from the State government will allow for up to 50 extra mobile phone towers to be built in the bush, which is fabulous news,” he said.
“The lack of mobile reception gets raised with me every week by people right across the Northern Tablelands who are concerned about safety along our major roads and remote properties or who find it difficult to conduct business in the region.”
Mr Marshall said that of the 6,200 unique mobile black spots on the Commonwealth Department of Communications’ database, 1,822 were in NSW.
“I am delighted that as part of its commitment to providing improved services and driving economic growth in country communities a re-elected government will provide $25 million over four years to eliminate some of the state’s worst mobile phone black spots,” he said.
“Using the Commonwealth Government’s mobile black spot database as a source, we will develop a NSW priority list to leverage any funding available from either local or Commonwealth sources.
Mr Marshall said NSW would work with the Commonwealth, which has committed $100 million over four years to the delivery of its Mobile Black Spot Program.
“This program is designed improve coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems,” he said.
“I’ve already been in discussions with my federal colleague Barnaby Joyce about black spots around Copeton Dam, Bonshaw, Croppa Creek and North Star, between Inverell and Glen Innes and other locations across the electorate.
“I look forward to being able to play a role in securing spending form this program for new towers in the Northern Tablelands.”