Mobile Black Spot Program Round 8—Project Noticeboard

The proposed Mystic Mobile tower would service the existing Telstra blackspot in Wandiligong Valley which experiences high number of tourists in a high bushfire risk area as well as residents. Additionally this area has large number of visitors engaged in high risk activities including mountain biking and paragliding. Rescues in this area are hampered by lack of communications.

The new Mystic Tower would also increase mobile capacity which regularly fails during peak tourist season which sees visitor numbers increase tenfold in peak times. This tower would also provide much needed redundancy for the critical Apex Hill tower.

Happy Valley runs between the Kiewa Valley and the Ovens Valley and is the main route from Falls Creek to Melbourne. There is a Telstra Blackspot on the north side of the ridge from near the Kiewa Valley Highway (GPS-36.5555, 147.0214) to the top of the ridge (GPS -36.5577, 146.9691). The Optus Blackspot exists on for most of the Happy Valley Road (GPS -36.5555, 147.0214 to GPS -36.5851, 146.915).

Lack of mobile phone coverage impacts economic activity, amenity for travelers and safety in a high bushfire risk area.

The Mitchelton locality in central Victoria has poor mobile connectivity, hindering businesses, tourism, and emergency response. It hosts iconic wineries Tabilk and Mitchelton, thoroughbred farms, small farms, and a CFA station with limited access.

The locality sits astride the Goulburn River. Seasonal visitor peaks strain the network, and the area's vulnerability to bushfires and in particular serious floods, highlights the urgent need for reliable communications.

Installing a mobile tower will address these issues, enhancing safety, supporting economic growth, and unlocking the locality's potential.

Howqua Valley, from Howqua Hills area to Howqua River at Lake Eildon still has many black spots. Residents number approximately 221, with 185 dwellings.

Summer visitation of 2000+, from Howqua River entrance at Lake Eildon to the Howqua Hills camping areas. There's a gravel road in/out that would likely fail in an evacuation.

Regardless of coverage maps there's little/ no connectivity on any given day and that ceases during high visitation. Recent network fail (28 October) lost 3 days of service.

Red Hill ridge is a strong contender for a tower, to enable connectivity or SMS warnings in an emergency.

Metcalfe is a small community in central Victoria with residents reporting little to no mobile coverage.

They have compiled a petition with 52 case studies from local residents who are impacted by poor mobile connectivity. This is impacting local business, community wellbeing and poses a public safety risk in the event of fire or floods as their designated emergency meeting place (Metcalfe Shire Hall) has no service.

Local organisations such Metcalfe Community Association, Landcare, Tennis Club, Uniting Church, Hall Committee, Senior Citizens Club, Craft Group and CFA cannot properly communicate with members.

The township of Marong is a significant growth corridor 17 kilometres west of Bendigo. It is expected Marong and Maiden Gully will account for at least a quarter of all new residential growth over the next 20 years in Bendigo.

Members of CFA Marong Brigade have little to no coverage to receive calls. The area is at risk of both fire and flood, and in previous emergency situations they have had to rely on mobile phones with no coverage.

The Calder Highway is a major thoroughfare in evacuations and it has multiple black spots.

Home to a strong agricultural sector, both industry and community would benefit from improved service. 

Dargo is located at the entry of the Alpine National Park and is one of Victoria’s most remote communities.

On weekends and during peak travel periods, the population swells by thousands as 4WD enthusiasts, campers and hikers use the town as a base for outdoor activities leaving the town with limited or no access to mobile reception in times of emergency.

The town is located one hour from any assistance and during peak periods, requires additional coverage to cope with the influx of tourists.

This region experiences numerous weather events including bushfires and improved coverage would ensure reliable service during times of emergency.
 

Woodside Beach is located 10km from the town of Woodside and is a popular surf beach and campsite.

Woodside Beach has a surf club and has a patrolled beach during the summer. Mobile coverage is patchy at best in this region and in times of an emergency mobile coverage cannot be relied on to call emergency services, particularly if access cannot be gained to the surf club to use the landline.

This area has become increasingly popular for tourists and improved mobile coverage would ensure that the residents and visitors to this community have access to reliable service particularly in times of emergency.

The mobile reception along Bengworden Road has low/patchy mobile coverage on parts of the route.

This road has become increasingly popular as an alternate to the Princes Highway and the growing communities located along the route have experienced a deterioration in coverage when driving the road and at home.

This road has experienced increased traffic in recent years and has an escalating wildlife problem causing traffic accidents. School bus services also service this community and utilise the road.

The unreliability of mobile phone coverage impacts economic activity, amenity for travellers and safety in a bushfire risk area.

Clifton Creek is located 12 kilometres north of Bairnsdale and was greatly impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires.

Mobile reception in Clifton Creek is patchy with half of the community enjoying good coverage and the other half located in the valley experiencing inadequate reception. This community requires reliable mobile phone coverage to ensure they are kept up to date with current information and messaging in times of a natural disaster.

The unreliability of mobile phone coverage impacts economic activity, amenity for travellers and community safety in a bushfire risk area.

Wulgulmerang East is located in far East Gippsland on the Gelantipy Road which is used not only by local residents but 4WD enthusiasts and tourists.

There is no mobile coverage here, and very limited access to landline connections in times of emergency. Increased mobile coverage would benefit farm and rural safety in this region and is supported by local residents and regular visitors to this remote part of East Gippsland.

This region is impacted by bushfires and the unreliability of mobile phone coverage impacts the safety of travellers in a bushfire risk area.

Hiawatha is located 25 kilometres north-west of Yarram in South Gippsland.

It is home to Minnehaha Falls which is a popular swimming hole and offers free camping located within the State Forest.

This area has no mobile coverage and concerns have been raised by tourists and local residents that in times of an emergency such as bushfires, there is no way to communicate with visitors to the region or contact emergency services.

This region experiences numerous weather events and has experienced fires in the past. Improved mobile coverage would ensure that the residents and visitors to Hiawatha have access to reliable service in times of emergency.

This town located 165 kilometres east of Melbourne with a population of more than 1,000 people has inconsistent mobile coverage.

The community has experienced patchy coverage to date and requires reliable mobile coverage given its close proximity to Boola Boola State Forest and the possibilities of bushfire risk.

The unreliability of mobile phone coverage impacts economic activity, amenity for travellers and safety in a bushfire risk area.

"The Paps" have always sited mobile transmission towers. Transition to 4G/5G via huge growth in data use now causes transmission failures, due to this technology's inability to cope with distance and geographic features—hills, trees etc.

This has "created" new black spots. Mobile towers, closer to permanently populated and high visitation areas are needed to carry the advantage of 4G/5G data transmission to communities, business, agriculture and our many visitors.

The transmission resilience of 3G is not replicated in 4G/5G.

Towers are now needed to be strategically situated, closer to these areas to enable reception at all.

These areas face significant communication gaps, especially during emergencies like bushfires and storms. Black spots hinder local businesses, jeopardise emergency responders, and put residents at risk.

Vital roads like Edenhope-Penola Road, relies heavily on mobile coverage for safety and economic activity. 2021 bushfires highlighted the critical need for reliable communication as damaged infrastructure left communities isolated.

Addressing black spots will enhance safety and resilience for rural Victoria.

This proposal is strongly supported by our community, Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee, Regional Development Victoria and CFA Dist. 17.

Mobile service coverage is essential for modern life, playing a crucial role in supporting local businesses, particularly in the agriculture sector, as well as ensuring the safety of residents.

In rural areas, particularly the Wimmera Highway and Kaniva-Edenhope Road near the Little Desert, mobile black spots create significant communication challenges.

These gaps disrupt business operations, compromise the efficiency of emergency responders, and endanger residents and volunteers during critical situations.

This proposal is strongly supported by our community, Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee, Regional Development Victoria and CFA Dist.17.

The area is isolated and abuts the busy Midland Highway between Benalla and Shepparton. It is subject to flooding and bushfires.

Residents have repeatedly voiced concern at the poor communications, particularly in times of emergency.

The Euroa Mansfield Road is a busy road that facilitates movement between the Hume Highway and the Maroondah Highway at Merton.

During the winter months, it carries high numbers of traffic seeking access to some of the Victorian snowfields. The Gooram waterfalls are a major tourist attraction.

The district sits in the Strathbogie ranges, is isolated, subject to bushfires and long-term power outages and residents as well as visitors are at risk, particularly in times of emergency.

Locksley is situated adjacent to the Hume Highway in north central Victoria.

It is a small isolated farming community and there is a significant gap in coverage of the locality and the nearby Hume Highway, meaning that both locals and travelers on the main Sydney to Melbourne road are unable to access reliable communications during emergencies.

This lack of access also affects farming and other commercial activities.

Mobile black spots in Nillumbik Shire present problems in emergency situations and the day-to-day lives of residents. 80% of community members who completed a survey stated poor connection occurs 24 hours a day.

The vast rural areas of Nillumbik make it a dangerous region to experience loss of connection during summer months due to bushfire risk and in times of severe weather events.

Severe weather and fire events have affected our region in 2022 and 2021 (storm and flood events) and the 2009 Black Saturday fires.

Reliable coverage is essential to ensure local emergency service providers and our community has 24/7 access in their times of need.