Mobile Network Hardening Program Round 3—Project Noticeboard

There is poor coverage within Currabubula, with a high bushfire risk to the west that was borne out in 2023 with the fire coming to within 1km of the township.

These areas have been affected recently from bushfires. The mobile reception is critical for residents, businesses, emergency services and the public, who travel through the Hume electorate using major thoroughfares linking regional towns to wider Sydney.

There is a many new developments in these locations and there is a large influx of new residents who have not experienced natural disasters at these locations.

Within the corridors of Montpelier Dr/Silverdale Rd from Lakesland to Wallacia. Particularly the localities of Werombi, Thirlmere, Lakesland, Mount Hunter and Oakdale. Additionally, Picton Road from Wilton to Mount Ousley. These thoroughfares are key corridors for evacuations.

Walcha has many remote communities that can be vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly bushfires, such as Nowendoc, Ingleba, Yarrowich which have very poor mobile coverage at the best of times. Mobile alerts are an essential communication tool during disasters. Additionally, community Halls at these locations can be used as evacuation centers and some have had a decrease in coverage since the switching off of 3G.

There is a lack of phone signal in the area. Flooding has the potential to isolate/inundate the Willow Tree Public School, with communications being key to ensuring the safety of residents during flooding.

It is on the New England Highway, with the impact of any bushfires to be quite high.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities in the Bondo Camp (Bondo Forestry Headquarters) on the Brindabella Road. This location currently has no phone coverage. Bush fire in this area would have serious impact on the forestry industry as shown in the Black Summer Fires. In these fires telecommunication was severely impacted for extended periods of time.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities at Minjary on the Gocup Road. This location currently has no phone coverage. The area is prone to fires caused by lightning impacting the area. Additionally, the Gocup road is a major haulage route with BB-Doubles carting to and from the area, including livestock, produce and timber industry product.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities at Ellerslie, Snowy Mountains Highway. This location currently has no phone coverage. This area is prone to lightning strikes and was the starting point for the Black Summer Bushfires which burnt over 40% of the softwood industry in the Snowy Valleys LGA. With over 300,000 hectares burnt of production and forest land. The impacts from the fire in the region are still being felt. This is also a major haulage route into and out of the region for B-Doubles carting livestock, produce and forestry product.

Mobile network coverage needs improving significantly along the Castlereagh Highway from Mudgee to Lithgow which has a history of being impacted and closed by bushfire activity and flash flooding in severe weather events. Many locations along this section of Highway (approximately 120km) don’t have mobile coverage, and this exacerbates the significant risk of natural disasters on lives of residents and visitors. The Highway runs directly along the western side of Windamere Dam and sections of the Cudgegong River. Mobile network coverage needs upgrading to help ensure safety. The Castlereagh Highway (Mudgee to Lithgow) will benefit from a Resilience Upgrade project.

Power continues to be the largest factor impacting network resilience and has the potential to create community isolation. Due to White Cliff's location, getting technicians and generators on-site before backup power is depleted is not always possible. The importance of an ATU providing automatic start/stop, with its own generator, was recently highlighted following events in the Far West of NSW. A severe storm destroyed seven TransGrid transmission towers, and it took two weeks for power to be fully restored to the main NSW electrical system. During this time, planned and unplanned outages impacted the power supply, and thus residents' phone services. While all efforts are made, an ATU and generator could simplify the process and assist in avoiding White Cliffs being a community in isolation.

Rugby is located on the main road between Boorowa and Crookwell. This road is a major thoroughfare linking rural towns. This proposal is supported by the local RFS and first responders who have had to leave emergency situations to obtain mobile service to call for assistance.
The township of Rugby has no mobile phone reception and being a rural township has had multiple bushfires impact the region.

The Shire of Uralla experiences significant natural disaster events from flooding to bushfires. Many residents live in regional and remote areas and it's not uncommon for people to be isolated during these events.

Existing Mobile coverage is extremely lacking which is exacerbated during these events. Trailer Mounted Mobile Communications Towers have proven to be integral in assisting with recovery efforts, or during periods of existing infrastructure failure.

The provision of Mobile towers would be a key asset for Uralla Shire Council as a combat agency during disaster events, or when infrastructure fails as is the case in Bundarra currently.

Installation of Automatic Transmitter Unit (ATU) and generator at the White Cliffs mobile tower.

Power continues to be the largest factor impacting network resilience and has the potential to create community isolation. Due to White Cliff's location, getting technicians and generators on-site before backup power is depleted is not always possible. The importance of an ATU providing automatic start/stop, with its own generator, was recently highlighted following events in the Far West of NSW. A severe storm destroyed seven TransGrid transmission towers, and it took two weeks for power to be fully restored to the main NSW electrical system. During this time, planned and unplanned outages impacted the power supply, and thus residents' phone services. While all efforts are made, an ATU and generator could simplify the process and assist in avoiding White Cliffs being a community in isolation.

These areas have been affected recently from bushfires. The mobile reception is critical for residents, businesses, emergency services and the public, who travel through the Hume electorate using major thoroughfares linking regional towns to wider Sydney.

There is a many new developments in these locations and there is a large influx of new residents who have not experienced natural disasters at these locations. These locations have been impacted by bushfires.

The following corridors are key corridors for evacuations: The corridors of Montpelier Dr/Silverdale Rd from Lakesland to Wallacia. The localities of Werombi, Thirlmere, Lakesland, Mount Hunter and Oakdale. Additionally, Picton Rd from Wilton to Mount Ousley.

Mobile Reception is a major problem in the key suburbs of Kenthurst, Arcadia, Annangrove, Dural, Galston & Middle Dural. These suburbs have black spots and households with reception service and quality problems. Further information can be provided on request which details key streets in these suburbs and specific issues.

Community organisations including the Hills Shire Council, Hornsby council, Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai RFS and The Hills RFS all support projects to improve mobile reception.

The Berowra electorate invites all organisations to get in contact and will connect expressions of interest with key community stakeholders who support these projects.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities. This location currently has no phone coverage. This area is prone to lightning strikes. This is also a major through road for traffic between Holbrook and Henty as well being a key arterial for the Henty field Days.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities at Lankeys Creek area. This location currently has no phone coverage. This area is prone to lightning strikes and was the starting point for the Black Summer Bushfires which had a major impact on softwood industry in Greater Hume and surrounding LGAs, with large areas of farm and forest land burnt. The impacts from the fire in the region are still being felt. This is also a major haulage route into and out of the region for B-Doubles carting livestock, produce and forestry product.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities Morven. This location currently has limited phone coverage. The area is prone to fires caused by lightning impacting the area. Additionally, it is a major haulage route with BB-Doubles carting to and from the area, including livestock, produce and timber industry product.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities. This location currently has no phone coverage. The area is prone to fires caused by lightning impacting the area. Additionally, Gerogery is a major haulage route with BB-Doubles carting to and from the area, including livestock, produce and timber industry product.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities at Burrumbuttock/Bungowaanah Area. This location currently has no phone coverage. The area is prone to fires caused by lightning impacting the area. Additionally, the area is a major haulage route with BB-Doubles carting to and from the area, including livestock, produce and timber industry product.

Installation of a tower and telecommunication facilities at Mullengandra. This location currently has no phone coverage. The area is prone to fires caused by lightning impacting the area. Additionally, this area is a major haulage route with BB-Doubles carting to and from the area, including livestock, produce and timber industry product.