In a week when the State Government announced more mobile towers for the bush the Country Women’s Association of NSW has said a lack of mobile phone and internet connectivity is limiting economic growth in regional NSW.
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The association is one group behind the newly formed Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition (RRRCC).
The collection of like-minded advocacy groups has “come together to say enough is enough”.
“We’re not complaining about customer issues...it’s a discussion about unlocking a section of the economy that is underutilised due to lack of connectivity,” CWA of NSW president Annette Turner said.
“It’s time to fix telecommunications in the bush.”
Mrs Turner said better connectivity would boost productivity in the agricultural sector, allow farming families to diversify and even provide a form of drought-proofing.
“It does have a flow-on effect...the younger women that are able to work from the property are creating employment and the economy is better for it,” she said.
The NSW and federal governments on Thursday announced 39 new towers under round two of the Mobile Black Spots Program, including one at Mt McDonald near Cowra.
The phone tower roll-out is set to begin in 2017.
Speaking before the announcement, Mrs Turner said government MPs should be applauded for addressing mobile black spots.
But she said the RRRCC wants to see long-term public funding for open access mobile network expansion in rural and regional Australia.
“I do feel that they should be applauded but I do feel that it is a right that we should have,” Mrs Turner said.
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said the latest tower should see primary producers around Mount McDonald experience improved internet access and reception on their mobile phones.
Ms Hodgkinson said the new, to be provided by Optus, is on top of seven towers already announced including Vodafone towers at Gooloogong, Cultowa, Billimari, Noonbinna, Koorawatha and Woodstock, and another at Darbys Falls with Telstra.
