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.

The greater Yamba area, a growing regional coastal community with a significant resident and visitor population, is experiencing persistent mobile connectivity challenges, including outlying areas of Angourie and Wooloweyah.

Poor mobile reception affects daily communication, public safety, and economic opportunities, particularly during natural disasters such as flooding and bushfires.

Reliable mobile connectivity is critical for emergency services, local businesses, and residents who depend on mobile networks for essential services. Yamba Community Action Network Inc. strongly supports any proposal to improve mobile coverage in the area.

Hamilton Valley signal strength varies greatly from no signal through to partial 4G/5G due to topology. The risk of fire is increased due to waste management operations, compounded by the increased disposal of batteries.

Current signal strength limits the ability for public to report emergencies within the upper reaches of the valley including council employees through its facilities. Council relies of internal networks and two-way radio back up for reliable communications.

Splitters Creek is a rural bushfire prone area with their own firestation. Emergency calls can only be made through access to personal StarLink connections. This is limited to the strength of WiFi signal at each home.

Signal disappears outside the home. Rural Fire Service currently use traditional pagers to alert volunteers. Standard RFS availability mobile apps not functional due to lack of signal.

Facility to boost phone coverage has been installed on the ‘Place of last resort’ but this is limited to small circumference of the centre. As evacuees increase to the area, this boost is no longer reliable.

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.

Wrathall residents experience significant connectivity challenges, especially after the phase-out of 3G. Key comments included:

• "A reliable phone service is essential for medical reasons."
• "Mobile phone coverage is very 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.

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.

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.

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 is critical for residents, businesses, and emergency services. Nelson Bay Road is the main thoroughfare linking Port Stephens to Newcastle.

The section of road from Williamtown to Fern Bay is an unlit 100 kilometre per hour stretch that has multiple accidents and requires mobile coverage for safety reasons.

The residents of Fullerton Cove and Fern Bay have been advocating for better mobile coverage since 2016.

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.

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.

Mobile coverage is very limited along Buchanan Road, Buchanan to Mount Vincent Road, Louth Park.

This road is a major thoroughfare linking our regional area and is direct route to Maitland Hospital and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Mobile reception is critical for residents, businesses, emergency services and the public who travel along Nelson Bay Road from Salt Ash to Anna Bay. It is especially busy during holiday times.

Natura Port Stephens at Bobs Farm - a over 55s community has been advocating for better mobile reception for over 12 months. Concerns have been raised about reporting medical emergencies.

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, this 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. 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.

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, this 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. 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.

Walcha continues to be plagued by poor mobile coverage across the LGA, in almost every location outside the township limits.

It is also not possible to maintain a signal along either of the two major transport routes that traverse the LGA—Thunderbolts Way that connects from Gloucester through to Inverell and Oxley Highway that connects the New England Highway at Bendemeer to the Pacific Highway at Port Macquarie.

While the Walcha LGA is sparsely populated, the lack of proper mobile coverage continues to be a significant risk factor for residents and travelers.

Yamba, Angourie and Wooloweyah’s mobile connectivity issues present significant challenges to residents, businesses, and visitors, impacting public safety, economic growth and quality of life.

Unstable mobile reception delays response times for accidents, medical emergencies, and natural disasters.

Vulnerable groups such as the elderly experience difficulty staying connected with essential services and loved ones. Tourists cite poor connectivity as a deterrent for repeat visits which negatively affects the local economy.

There is an urgent need for the inclusion of Yamba, Angourie and Wooloweyah in Round 8 of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

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, flash flooding and landslides 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 Cudgegong River. Mudgee to Lithgow will benefit from new and improved mobile network coverage projects to help ensure safety.