On 26 October the Kangaroo Valley Community Consultative Body hosted a well-attended community meeting with Telstra to discuss the issue of mobile phone coverage in the Valley. As you can imagine, there was some robust discussion, which is always good.
A number of interesting points were raised and included the fact that there would need to be 6-8 base stations erected to fix all the problems the Valley faces, and there are plans to turn off the 3G network by June 2024. Don’t panic though – 4G coverage needs to be equal to the current 3G coverage before it can be turned off, and the Minister needs to sign it off before that happens.
When we were listed as a mobile phone black spot back in 2018, the problem area was listed as Budgong, Tallowa Dam and Bendeela. Any base station installed as part of the current Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program needs to substantially cover the original area; so a new tower funded under that agreement can’t address a different area (eg. Barrengarry or Upper Kangaroo River).
In the meeting, Telstra stated that our black spot site had been marked as “frustrated” and the funding had been lost. We have since followed this up with the Director of Mobile Black Spot Program Implementation within the Federal Government and have confirmed that the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, has extended the funding until at least June 2023. We would need an agreement on a viable site by that time to ensure we don’t lose this round of funding.
To that end, Telstra have reopened discussions with Shoalhaven Water regarding a site adjacent to the Kangaroo Valley Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Power Station (Jacks Corner Road). We will be staying abreast of these negotiations and will keep you informed. Of course, this location would assist with mobile phone reception within the Valley but not Budgong, which is part of the original scope.
But wait, there’s more. In the Federal Government Budget for 2022, there was an announcement of “$3 million to improve mobile coverage in communities with severe coverage issues like Jamberoo, Lilli Pilli, Worrigee and Kangaroo Valley”. This is in addition to any funding we currently have available under the Mobile Black Spot Program and means that we could potentially fix another black spot area in the Valley and surrounds. We will be working closely with the Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips on how that funding will be utilised and what opportunities may become available, so stay tuned.
If you want to be added to the KVCCB mailing list please send your details (including property address, contact number and email address) to kvccb@kangaroovalley.nsw.au and we will ensure you are added. Our next General Meeting is Tuesday 31 January 2023 at 6:30pm in the Kangaroo Valley Hall.
Al Lockyer
