Remote locations in Cowra Shire with poor mobile phone and broadband reception are being encouraged to contact Cowra Council to apply for Federal Government funding to fix the problem, Cowra Mayor, Councillor Bill West said.
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The Commonwealth has provided $100 million over four years under its Mobile Black Spot Programme to build infrastructure for rural areas with chronically-poor mobile and internet reception.
"While agriculture and mining are two of Australia's great export earners, they are almost exclusively carried out in rural areas, often with poor mobile phone reception," Cr West said.
"This programme is aiming to invest in infrastructure to improve coverage of high-quality mobile voice and broadband services and bring competition to areas with poor or absent telecommunications coverage," Cr West says, pointing out that many such areas exist in our Shire.
Local farmer Steve Laver knows the problem only too well.
Running a broad-acre grazing property, he relies on expensive and intermittent satellite services for his internet with poor mobile phone coverage.
"We just feel that we provide a lot to the community but we're a bit left-out and excluded from a service that other people take for granted," Steve says.
"It's just a time thing; having good coverage saves you time and the frustration of not getting these things through," he explains.
Deputy Captain of Reids Flat Rural Fire Service, he says that having poor mobile reception also hampers local fire control efforts.
"Mobile coverage is pretty much non-existent; and this really affects reportage of fires.
"People driving through often act as fire-spotters but, if they don't get reception, it may be an hour later before they can tell someone," he explains.
Steve says that a recent incident where an injured farmer lay for two days with a broken pelvis before he was rescued showed the importance of having mobile phone access.
"A lot of us work in isolation; therefore if you have an accident or something goes wrong, you can't contact anyone," Steve said.
"While the capital works in the programme would be funded by the Federal Government, local councils may be asked to provide support for projects in their area," Cr West concluded.
Cowra Council is currently assessing local areas to determine the needs of local land-holders with poor mobile and internet access; those who would like to contribute can contact Council's Business Officer Ponie De Wet on 6340 2038, email: pdewet@cowra.nsw.gov.au