Opportunities exist within the City of Swan for improvements to mobile reception and coverage.
There are significant challenges to mobile coverage in the Swan Valley Tourism Precinct, running from Caversham to Upper Swan and centred on the suburb of Herne Hill.
Addressing these black spots will assist not only residents but also the many businesses and tens of thousands of visitors to the Valley each month.
Insufficiencies in mobile coverage around the Gidgegannup townsite are not only an impediment to growth but also present added hazards in emergency bushfire situations.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Stanley
Description of community needs:
Stanley is an isolated, village located in the hills 10 kilometres from Beechworth in a high bushfire risk area. An intensive farming zone (berries, apples, vines, nursery) offering self-pick and farm gate trade.
The Stanley Hotel and High Grove are tourist destinations attracting hundreds of people each weekend.
Further, the region is popular with mountain biking particularly the recently opened Epic Trail from Beechworth to Yackandandah.
Mobile coverage is limited and unreliable, making communication and reaching assistance during emergencies doubtful. Limited and patchy coverage impacts businesses and residents in Stanley every day.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Everton Upper
Description of community needs:
Beechworth Wangaratta Road between Tarrawingee and Beechworth has unreliable/no mobile coverage—particularly the stretch from Boundary Road into Beechworth.
A rich viticulture region, limited coverage makes running a business challenging, is isolating for residents and a safety concern as it is a high bushfire risk area.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Kurrajong, Katoomba, Medlow Bath, North Richmond, Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine
Description of community needs:
These are specific poor reception areas requiring infill augmentation and not covered by known planned telco projects:
Kurrajong—Robertson Street downhill from the village; Cedar Ridge Road. Katoomba—between High School and Cliff Drive. Medlow Bath—the village is served by towers located at Katoomba and Blackheath and an infill tower would improve coverage particularly on the northern side of the GWH. Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine—remote villages with minimal, if any, coverage that require resilient solutions. North Richmond—Kurmond Road between North Richmond and Freemans Reach.
State or Territory:
WA
Community Location:
Mundijong town, particularly Mundijong Road between SW Highway
Description of community needs:
Mundijong Road is a key enterprise and business activity arc, linking the AUKUS naval project area to key defence housing locations such as Mundijong, and the West Mundijong Industrial Area along the way.
There is a need for improved mobile data to support the significant movement of activity along Mundijong Road.
Further, the road is subject to significant high risk bushfire threat, being located along a rural interface with fringing communities all surrounding by high threat bushfire prone areas.
As a key road corridor used extensively by business, residents and broader community, it is a high risk area.
Coordinates = -32.294589, 115.943815
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
WA
Community Location:
Serpentine townsite south to Keysbrook
Description of community needs:
Central area of Serpentine and Keysbrook, near Hopeland Road. This area forms a significant part of the Shire's primary product economy, with broadscale farming and animal husbandry creating significant output and income for the economy.
It is important to improve mobile data capacity to support the growth of these businesses, and to enable adaptation of autonomous technologies to stay competitive.
It is also an essential technology to address the extreme risk of bushfire in these communities, associated with the rural interface.
Coordinates = -32.399456, 115.910200
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
WA
Community Location:
Wooroloo, Chidlow, and Parkerville (specifically North Kilburn Road up to Hidden Valley Road and South of Kilburn Road up to Clifton Road that are within the eligible areas) and the Lakes.
Description of community needs:
Mobile phone blackspots in the Shire of Mundaring, particularly in areas such as Parkerville (as noted in the "Location"), Chidlow, and Wooroloo, pose significant risks and challenges. These black spots limit residents' ability to make general calls, contact emergency services, and receive critical telephone warning system messages during emergencies such as bushfires.
Furthermore, communication for emergency responders is often hindered, impacting their ability to coordinate effectively during crises.
Addressing these blackspots is essential to improve safety, ensure timely access to emergency services, and enhance overall communication.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Osborne
Description of community needs:
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.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Bidgeemia
Description of community needs:
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.
Bidgeemia residents face severe connectivity challenges, reporting weak mobile reception. Key feedback included:
"Mobile phone connection is less or nil with more black spots (nil coverage) and dropouts or no connection."
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.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Wrathall
Description of community needs:
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.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
