Mobile Black Spot Program Round 8—Project Noticeboard

Cotter and Casuarina Sands; Tidbinbilla National Park/Reserve District; Tharwa and Naas Road have little to no mobile coverage. Each location is prone to natural disaster - a high risk of bushfire. Cotter and Casuarina Sands are additionally subject to flooding, and at other times being increasingly popular swimming, camping and recreation areas have generated a number of emergency responses that have been delayed due to lack of mobile communications.

Constituents and stakeholders in Mr. Smith's electorate have raised concerns of 'extremely poor' service in the location(s) mentioned above.

Cotter, Paddy's River, Tidbinbilla Road(s) and surrounding areas are high traffic/tourist corridors that connect the greater ACT region to the CBD. Said locations (some within 15–20 kilometres to CBD) receive zero coverage.

This is negatively affecting residents and hinders the local Rivers RFS' operations and response (Optus aware).

Being within proximity to the ACT, this issue has potential for serious risk, not just to said locations, but also to outer suburbs of Weston Creek and greater surrounds.

In 2022, Lockhart Shire Council conducted a community-wide survey to evaluate phone and internet connectivity across the region. A total of 215 responses revealed significant issues with mobile reception.

Milbrulong face long-standing connectivity issues. Survey respondents highlighted:

• "Reception is unreliable."
• "We rarely get more than 1 bar; service used to be better."

The area's vulnerability to bushfires and flooding exacerbates the impact. Businesses cannot operate effectively without reliable communication infrastructure.

Full survey results are available from the contact provided.

High bushfire risk area and prone to flash flooding events. No mobile reception in this area. During the 2019/2020 bushfires, lives were threatened, homes and property were affected. There are only two roads in and out of the area, Mooral Creek Road and Warrawillah Road.

Both of these roads are unsealed, have multiple causeways, generally in poor condition and are prone to flood in storm events. The local school bus travels these roads each morning and afternoon.

Being stuck along the road with a flat tyre, damaged suspension, caught between two causeways during heavy storms, blocked by fallen trees and not being able to phone anyone.

High bushfire and flash flooding risk. Terrible mobile coverage, compounded by poorly maintained and unreliable land line network. Examples of landline being out of service for over a month, to only be reconnected and out again a week later after a rain event. More mobile towers, strategically placed to reduce blackspot areas, plus investment in the maintenance and upgrade of the landline infrastructure is urgently required to provide just basic phone services. 

There is only one road in/out of Lorne. During flood events many people are redirected off the new England highway through Lorne, resulting in thousands of people sitting in their cars, bumper to bumper for hours with traffic at a standstill resulting in a possible life threatening situation. Mobile coverage in the area is deteriorating, due to congestion. Between 9.30 am through to 5.30 pm on daily basis, there is little or no mobile signal, with the situation improving in the evenings and early morning. Coverage deteriorates further in times of flooding event when many people are required to be diverted via Lorne.

High retirement population and holiday destination. Poor and unreliable mobile signal. Only one access road which is subject to flooding and has also been closed due to bushfire events. Despite assurances their mobile signal would improve with the closure of 3G, this has not been the case, and has rather deteriorated further. Reliable and accessible mobile coverage is not only necessary for everyday living in a modern society but can be critical during emergencies such a flooding event.

There is a need for increase capacity with poor and unreliable mobile signal, especially when the village/area receives visitors or in times of emergency there is not enough capacity to provide reliable mobile signal. 

Reliable and accessible mobile coverage is not only necessary for everyday living in a modern society but can be critical during emergencies such a flooding or bushfire event. This is a heavily timbered area of the NSW. 

The black spot not only impacts the local community, but also the Pacific Highway nearby.

Improving mobile black spots in Coalcliff is vital for enhancing community safety and connectivity.

With the region's rugged terrain and coastal location, reliable mobile coverage is essential for emergency services to operate, particularly during bushfires, severe weather events and severe health emergencies.

Connectivity in the suburb for residents, visitors and commuters is abysmal. The South Coast rail line is a major commuter corridor for Illawarra workers, and black spots make commuter travel frustrating and impractical for workers.

It is also greatly frustrating for residents who have to rely on Wi-Fi and are often left without access.

The installation of a tower at Central West Industrial Park (CWIP) will provide 4G and 5G coverage within a 6 kilometre radius, benefiting various sectors including the CWIP precinct, Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE), the Newell Highway (serving emergency services and roadside workers), future solar farms, the Inland Rail construction (Stockingbal to Parkes), and the Back Yamma mountains.

The location is in a flood-free area, and the local council has received multiple letters of support from businesses seeking reliable coverage in the region.

The tower will enhance socio-economic and safety outcomes for the community.

Mobile reception is critical for residents, businesses, emergency services and the public, who travel through the Hunter electorate using major thoroughfares such as the Pacific Highway and the M1 Motorway.

There are many new developments and a large influx of new residents who haven't experienced natural disasters at these locations. These locations have been impacted by bushfires in the past.

Main roads that are impacted are Wyee Road, Rutleys Road and Hue Hue Road.

Mobile phone reception in the northern Central Coast and southern Lake Macquarie is essential for residents and businesses as well as visitors to the area. 

Reception in our community has been notoriously patchy and a source of significant frustration for locals.

The Gwandalan-Summerland Point RFS is located within this area so quality, reliable mobile phone reception is essential for them as well as residents in times of emergency.

In 2022, Lockhart Shire Council conducted a community-wide survey to evaluate phone and internet connectivity across the region. A total of 215 responses revealed significant issues with mobile reception.

Tootool residents face severe connectivity challenges, reporting weak mobile reception and inadequate internet options. Key feedback included:

"We are in a black spot with no mobile service or NBN fixed wireless coverage."
"Signal strength decreased after the 5G upgrade."
"There’s no mobile service for calls."

The area's vulnerability to bushfires and flooding exacerbates the impact. Businesses cannot operate effectively without reliable communication infrastructure.

Full survey results available from the contact provided.

Proposed target location for improved coverage in its LGA is in the Maraylya area which adjoins the suburbs of Gables, Box Hill and Vineyard.

Those suburbs represent a significant part Sydney’s North West Growth Area which will result in a large increase in the residential population of that area and a corresponding increase in the demand for mobile telecommunication services.

Proposed target location for improved coverage in Wentworth Shire Council area town of Pooncarie. Limited coverage from Pooncarie to 40 kilometres south for a very small area then nil coverage to Fletcher's Lake Road.

No phone service to call an emergency. Limited coverage for properties and business to report emergencies.

Worsening mobile signal, which started before the closure of 3G (and has subsequently has not improved ) including residents with zero signal is vital for the community. Back up landline increasingly unreliable during wet periods. 

Much of the road from Bandon Grove to Dungog no longer has mobile signal. 

The area is very exposed to serious bushfires that emanate from the adjoining Chichester State Forest. Also located adjacent to the Chichester River and low-lying roads flooding is a major issue with access to and from the area frequently cut.

A recent survey by Gunnedah Shire Council identified widespread mobile connectivity issues in villages and rural areas, exacerbated by the 3G shutdown. Many residents report unreliable service, impacting emergency response, business operations, and education access for children.

One stated, “Every second counts in an emergency, but we can’t rely on our phones.” Another shared, “It makes it very difficult to conduct business, work effectively, or feel confident I can get help.” In a region where bushfires and floods occur, these gaps pose serious risks. Full survey results are available upon request.

Unreliable and poor mobile and internet reception. Even with a booster, even in good times the signal is week and unreliable. During school holidays with influx of people, internet is so slow it becomes unusable. 

The area has a relatively high rainfall, including summer storms with high wind. These cause havoc with mobile signal and with poorly maintained underground landline cables as recently experienced during the 2019/20 bushfires and the flooding event of 2021.

In 2022, Lockhart Shire Council conducted a community-wide survey to evaluate phone and internet connectivity across the region. A total of 215 responses revealed significant issues with mobile reception.

Residents between Lockhart and Urana face severe connectivity challenges, reporting zero mobile reception.

The area's vulnerability to bushfires and flooding exacerbates the impact. Businesses cannot operate effectively without reliable communication infrastructure.

Full survey results are available from the contact provided.

In 2022, Lockhart Shire Council conducted a community-wide survey to evaluate phone and internet connectivity across the region. A total of 215 responses revealed significant issues with mobile reception.

Osborne residents face severe connectivity challenges, reporting weak mobile reception. Survey respondents highlighted:

"Service has been declining for at least the last 12 months." 
"Over the last 12 months the connection and service has got more patchy."

The area's vulnerability to bushfires and flooding exacerbates the impact. Businesses cannot operate effectively without reliable communication infrastructure.

Full survey results are available from the contact provided.