Mobile Black Spot Program Round 8—Project Noticeboard

Hoyleton is a region of high primary production outputs and a commodity logistics corridor which has little to no mobile phone coverage. 

It is also home to the Mid North Primary Response Zone (PRZ) Aerotech base, a vital location for the standby and dispatch of aerial firefighting resources within PRZs, which are defined geographic areas of high bushfire risk where uncontrolled fires may have serious consequences for life, the community, and environmental or commercial assets.

Poor mobile service remains a major barrier for this vital regional emergency response asset.

Beetaloo Valley, Southern Flinders has a permanent population of 75 with a median age of 56. There is virtually no mobile coverage. A mixture of lifestyle and farming properties, the Valley supports diverse native vegetation including environmentally significant grassy woodlands. It abuts a National Park and has many city-based visitors expecting mobile phone coverage.

Due to the hot and dry climate and heavily wooded undulating terrain, bushfire risk is great. The 2014 Bangor fire threatened many properties and burned vast amount of land. All roads are unsealed and difficult to navigate. Without early warning, evacuation would be dangerous.

Caltowie is situated between Gladstone and Jamestown in SA with a population of 122 people that swells to 1300 once a year for the Caltowie Chill Out'n'Fired Up Music Festival. It has very poor mobile coverage.

The ARTC Crystal Brook to Broken Hill line traverses Caltowie and six large freight trains traverse the centre of Caltowie daily, mobile coverage would be imperative in case of an accident. Caltowie hosts a popular RV camping site that attracts many campers, notably grey nomads who may need medical assistance. It is a well travelled thoroughfare between Laura/Gladstone and Jamestown.

A small town (population of 41) in an isolated location between Appila and Orroroo with very limited mobile coverage. In addition to farming, Tarcowie has a phosphate mine with four employees, heavy mining equipment and 200 truck movements a year.

Lack of mobile coverage is a big safety concern as there are times when there are only one or two people on site who can’t be reached by phone and in the event of fire, which has happened, employees could not be warned as they were in a part of the mine which has no service.

Trucks struggle to communicate via phone and are not aware of each other’s movements and unable to ring before entering the mine.

Willowie Road between Orroroo and Carrieton experiences intermittent coverage. This is a corridor for freight, locals and visitors travelling to and from Wilmington and Quorn.

This route also carries a significant amount of tourist travelling from Sydney through to Perth, Orroroo accommodates approximately 500,000 vehicle movements per annum.

Agriculture is the primary industry in this area and is particularly vulnerable to bushfires and lack of coverage poses serious risks to firefighters, farmers, and residents.

The prioritisation of mobile coverage infrastructure improvements will support regional development, community safety and economic resilience.

The RM Williams Way between Carrieton and Orroroo experiences intermittent coverage. A main corridor for freight, locals and visitors travelling to and from the Flinders Ranges and beyond, over five hundred thousand vehicles travel on this route annually.

This particularly creates challenges for tourists way-finding. Agriculture is the primary industry in this area and is particularly vulnerable to bushfires and lack of coverage poses serious risks to firefighters, farmers, and residents.

The prioritisation of this location will support regional development, community safety, and economic resilience.

The area around the small village of Black Rock, population 32, has no mobile phone coverage.

The area is a popular tourism destination with Magnetic Hill and Black Rock lookout and the risk of bushfire or floods combined with harsh temperatures, risk of snake bite and hiking accidents means that reliable coverage is essential for emergency management for the safety of locals and visitors alike.

The road between Bute and Port Broughton and the farms in the area experience intermittent coverage. This route is a corridor for freight, agricultural machinery, locals and visitors travelling in the upper Yorke Peninsula.

Agriculture is the primary industry in this area and being mainly broadacre, the area is particularly vulnerable to bushfires such as the 2019 Yorketown Fire and lack of coverage poses serious risks to firefighters, farmers, tourists and residents.

Port Broughton is a major tourist town and in particular attracts caravaners and grey nomads who are more at risk of mechanical or medical emergencies.

The roads between Tickera and Bute and the farms in the area experience intermittent coverage.

This route is a corridor for freight, agricultural machinery, locals and visitors travelling in the upper Yorke Peninsula.

Agriculture is the primary industry in this area and being mainly broadacre, the area is particularly vulnerable to bushfires such as the 2019 Yorketown Fire and lack of coverage poses serious risks to firefighters, farmers, tourists and residents.

Tickera is a tourist spot with many visitors in the holiday season.

The area around the small village of Black Rock, population 32, has no mobile phone coverage. 

The area is a popular tourism destination with Magnetic Hill and Black Rock lookout and the risk of bushfire or floods combined with harsh temperatures, risk of snake bite and hiking accidents means that reliable coverage is essential for emergency management for the safety of locals and visitors alike.

Dawson Road has no mobile connectivity. It is classified as a B Double Route and is mainly used as a thoroughfare for agriculture. 

Its isolated position combined with movement of heavy trucks mean that connectivity is essential in case of accidents or mechanical failure. 

Agriculture is the primary industry in this area and is particularly vulnerable to bushfires and lack of coverage poses serious risks to firefighters, farmers, and residents.

The Riverland, Murraylands and Mallee region of South Australia is known for its irrigation and dryland farming, food and wine production, as well as world-renowned natural attractions and internationally recognised tourism experiences.

Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant flood and bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch over.

Contributing approximately $4.6 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2022, the Limestone Coast generates over 30% of the state's GDP through its agricultural sector.

The region's natural landscapes of caves and coasts, as well as food and wine experiences also support a strong tourism sector. Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

Contributing approximately $4.6 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2022, the Limestone Coast generates over 30% of the state's GDP through its agricultural sector.

The region's natural landscapes of caves and coasts, as well as food and wine experiences also support a strong tourism sector. Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

Contributing approximately $4.6 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2022, the Limestone Coast generates over 30% of the state's GDP through its agricultural sector. 

The regions natural landscapes of caves and coasts, as well as food and wine experiences also support a strong tourism sector. Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region. 

The region is high risk of significant bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

Contributing approximately $4.6 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2022, the Limestone Coast generates over 30% of the state's GDP through its agricultural sector. The regions natural landscapes of caves and coasts, as well as food and wine experiences also support a strong tourism sector. 

Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region. 

The region is high risk of significant bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. 

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

The Riverland region of South Australia is known for its irrigation and dryland farming, food and wine production, as well as world-renowned natural attractions and internationally recognised tourism experiences.

Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant flood and bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

The region is recognised for its world-class wine, artisanal produce and tourism as well as extensive agricultural, viticultural and horticultural sectors.

The region has seen rapid and sustained population growth in recent years, increasing the need to upgrade infrastructure and services including telecommunications.

Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region and importantly, safety as the region is high risk of significant bush fire events.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

Contributing approximately $4.6 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2022, the Limestone Coast generates over 30% of the state's GDP through its agricultural sector.

The region’s natural landscapes of caves and coasts, as well as food and wine experiences also support a strong tourism sector. Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.

The Riverland, Murraylands and Mallee regions of South Australia are known for their irrigation and dryland farming, food and wine production, as well as world-renowned natural attractions and internationally recognised tourism experiences.

Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.

The region is high risk of significant flood and bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.