Mobile Black Spot Program Round 8—Project Noticeboard

Major industries such as Goorambat solar farm (commencing 2025) and agricultural farming, are reliant on decent communications for farm safety and use of technology to monitor daily farm operations. 

Also a very high tourism area as part of the the NEVic Silo Art Trail with visitors complaining regularly of limited to zero mobile coverage, which also impacts local businesses with the ability to accept EFTPOS transactions.

Only one bar or no mobile reception in the manufacturing and health precinct in Benalla's CBD to the east of Bridge Street including Sydney Road, Samaria Road, Coster Street plus Murrays and Yarrawonga Roads.

The Enterprise Park industrial park is also impacted by the lack of telecommunications with a new manufacturing precinct envisioned as part of the Forestry Transition program in the Yarrawonga Road Industrial 2 precinct.

Major industries impacted currently include: SES Regional Headquarters; Benalla airport; Schneider Electric, LS Precast; Australian Munitions and NIOA; Benalla Health and Cooinda Aged Care.

Extremely poor signal to the east of the Hume Freeway into the Strathbogie Ranges forested area. Prone to bushfires, flood and major storm damage in last 18 months. 

One road in and out for vehicles, Important area for emergency access to the Hume Freeway.

Limited to zero mobile coverage on the single road over the Warby Ranges creating safety issues in the event of bushfire, accidents or Emergency Services access as only one road in and out. 

Major tourism area in Glenrowan (with new Visitor Information and Ned Kelly Centre), Winton Wetlands and local Glenrowan vignerons such as Baileys, Black Dog Brewery, Taminick etc. 

The very limited telecommunications access is frustrating for businesses and visitors alike, plus a safety issue in the event of bush fire, flood or other emergency.

The Sandsmere to Telopea Downs North region, bordering the Big Desert Wilderness Park, is home to locals, farmers, employees, tourists, and 4WD enthusiasts.

This area is highly susceptible natural disasters, in particular bushfires. Unfortunately, the current lack of mobile service creates a significant safety gap.

Emergency responses have been delayed multiple times due to the inability of locals and visitors to communicate in the event of accident or serious injury.

Reliable mobile service is essential for safety, improving emergency response and communication in this remote area.

Beechworth Wangaratta Road between Tarrawingee and Beechworth has unreliable/no mobile coverage—particularly the stretch from Boundary Road into Beechworth. 

A rich viticulture region, limited coverage makes running a business challenging, is isolating for residents and a safety concern as it is a high bushfire risk area.

Stanley is an isolated, village located in the hills 10 kilometres from Beechworth in a high bushfire risk area. An intensive farming zone (berries, apples, vines, nursery) offering self-pick and farm gate trade.

The Stanley Hotel and High Grove are tourist destinations attracting hundreds of people each weekend.

Further, the region is popular with mountain biking particularly the recently opened Epic Trail from Beechworth to Yackandandah.

Mobile coverage is limited and unreliable, making communication and reaching assistance during emergencies doubtful. Limited and patchy coverage impacts businesses and residents in Stanley every day.

Inverleigh, 30 kilometres west of Geelong, faces telecommunications issues, compounded by flooding risks from the nearby Leigh and Barwon Rivers.

The Beyond the Valley music festival, attracting up to 50,000 people, strains the mobile network, raising concerns for communication during emergencies like bushfires.

Improved infrastructure would enhance safety, reduce network strain during events, and support local businesses and remote workers, boosting productivity.

The Golden Plains Shire Council supports proposals to improve mobile coverage, aiming for better connectivity and resilience in emergencies.

Wingeel Fire Station is situated in a large area of broadacre farmland, where the topography and land use increase the risk of grass fires. These fires often require the response of multiple brigades, primarily composed of local farmers. 

However, poor telecommunications infrastructure makes it difficult to coordinate an effective response during emergencies. Additionally, this site is near the Beyond the Valley Music Festival, which attracts 35,000 patrons. 

Improved telecommunications infrastructure at Wingeel Fire Station would enhance emergency response capabilities and help maintain connectivity during the festival.

Residents of Woolsthorpe have been advocating for improved mobile phone coverage due to its rural location and dense farmland. Reliable coverage is crucial for local businesses, Woolsthorpe Primary School, and the Recreation Reserve.

For businesses, it ensures smooth operations and communication. The school needs it for safety, contact with parents, and educational tech. The reserve requires coverage for safety and event management.

Improved mobile services would benefit the whole community, and residents are pushing for action from service providers and government programs.

Mobile coverage along this road is particularly patchy. It is a fairly major road, used a lot by locals, tourists, agriculture and general freight.

The road often is a major transport link between Bendigo and Ballarat - Victoria's 2nd and 3rd largest regional cities.

The area is also a high fire risk and therefore emergency connection is vital.

Hepburn Shire would consider in-kind support of community consultation, and planning approvals. 
 

Intermit mobile issues are regularly reported in townships in and around the Otway Ranges.

The topography of the Otways, being hilly and heavily forested, exacerbate the blackspots. The gaps in coverage present a major public safety concern given this is one of the highest fire risk locations in Australia. In summer the population of townships such as Lorne, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet can more than treble. The high visitor numbers create additional pressure on networks, with the effect that coverage is severely compromised when access to emergency information is most critical.
 

There is a significant ongoing mobile blackspot in the vicinity of Deans Marsh Road (near Mt Sabine), resulting in no mobile signal being available for between 5 and 7kms of the road. The road is winding, narrow and heavily forested. Consequently there are road accidents and downed trees multiple times per year and such incidents can't immediately be reported because of lack of mobile coverage. Motorists report having to travel a further 10 minutes past the site of an incident before they can access mobile coverage.

The road is a primary route for people who work in Lorne and is a school bus route.
 

The Mornington Peninsula is part of metro Melbourne, but 70% of the peninsula is more like regional Victoria, where mobile black spots pose severe risks during emergencies.

Storms and floods in 2021, 2022, and 2024 left residents without utilities and mobile reception for weeks, endangering elderly and vulnerable residents and visitors.

Complex challenges such as an ageing population, 8 million+ annual tourists, and post-COVID growth mean poor mobile connectivity threatens lives, and negatively impacts safety, emergency response, and the economy.

Mobile network hardening, more base stations, and co-location of services are essential for reliable connectivity.

Improving mobile coverage in Nullawarre and Childers Cove on the Great Ocean Road is essential for safety, tourism, and local business.

Reliable coverage ensures quick access to emergency services, which can be life-saving. It also enhances the tourist experience, as visitors rely on their phones for navigation and communication.

Better connectivity supports local businesses and encourages economic growth.

Additionally, strong mobile networks allow residents to stay connected and access services like remote work and telemedicine, improving quality of life for all.

The Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, particularly around the intersection of Boundary Road, Everton Upper has no reliable mobile coverage.

The area supports three premium producing wineries which support tourism and agriculture. Without reliable mobile service it makes it challenging to run a business.

The road is a main commuter road for residents, school students and tourists, linking the towns of Wangaratta and Beechworth. As a high risk bushfire area, increased communication will support local residents and assist to keep residents and tourists safe and connected.

Council is fielding a number of complaints on a regular basis from residents in the agricultural area stretching from Boweya to Glenrowan west, a strip running north to south along the western side of the Warby Ovens National Park. This is rich agricultural land where the topography may be suitable for a communications tower.

Residents have little, one bar at best, to no signal across the area. This is making it challenging for farmers selling stock or needing to conduct business out in the field away from WiFi services in the home. The area has also been subject to bushfires in the past which poses a safety concern.

Yarra Junction, home to around 2,875 residents, suffers from unreliable mobile coverage, especially south of the Warburton Highway and Little Yarra Road. This impacts both residents and businesses that depend on consistent mobile access. With the area located on a floodplain, the risk of flooding from the Yarra and Little Yarra Rivers makes reliable phone coverage even more crucial for emergency responses and evacuations. Improved coverage is essential for both safety and local livelihoods.

The Mafeking Valley has long struggled with inadequate phone coverage, a problem that becomes especially critical during emergencies. In both 2006 and recent fires, the valley was one of the first areas impacted, acting as a vital defense line to prevent fires from spreading onto the plains. Unfortunately, poor mobile reception has consistently hampered communication, making it difficult for emergency services to coordinate effectively. Even after the recent fire on January 31, phone calls continued to drop out, disrupting essential recovery efforts, such as coordinating wildlife care, managing water deliveries, and organising fodder supplies.

Hotspur, located between Portland and Casterton along the Portland-Casterton road, is part of the Green Triangle and a vital freight route, with high-density plantations and vast farmlands. Mobile phone coverage is crucial in this region for efficient communication, especially for the timber and agricultural industries. It enables real-time coordination for freight operations, facilitates business and farming activities, and ensures safety in remote areas. Mobile connectivity enhances operational efficiency, access to services, and emergency response, supporting the area’s growth and sustainability.