Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall at Bukkulla, where it will soon be a lot easier to make a phone call with a new Telstra mobile phone tower on the way.
Wednesday, 18 August 2021
PEOPLE living around Bukkulla (north of Inverell) and Glen Elgin (north east of Glen Innes) will soon have dramatically improved mobile phone coverage, thanks to a cash injection from the State Government to help construct two new mobile phone towers, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall said the jointly funded Mobile Black Spot program, with the Commonwealth Government, would help provide much-needed essential mobile phone coverage to the community, focusing on areas impacted recently by bushfire and floods.
“Mobile phone service is a necessity and a literal lifeline for our communities and the improved coverage from this investment will make a huge difference to the daily lives of people around Bukkulla and Glen Elgin,” Mr Marshall said.
“The Black Summer bushfires highlighted once again the importance of having good and reliable mobile connectivity in country NSW.
“These two new Telstra mobile phone towers will deliver both communities certainty, ensuring that people can contact emergency services, work while on the road and stay in touch with family and friends.”
The two new mobile base stations will be delivered in partnership with Telstra, taking the number of new regional NSW mobile phone towers co-funded by the NSW Government to 162.
Mr Marshall said this additional investment would expand the mobile phone footprint in regional NSW, delivering vital coverage to communities that have missed out previously.
“This is a big win for these two communities and builds on the significant investment already made by the State Government, providing coverage to over 21,000 regional businesses and homes,” he said.
“Mobile connectivity is a responsibility of the Federal Government, but despite this, the State Government is determined to ensure our rural communities have better access to mobile, internet and digital services.”
Construction on the two new towers is expected to start in the next few months.
For more information on the NSW Government’s Regional Digital Connectivity program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/connectregionalnsw