Community Location:
Murraylands and Coorong area: Salt Creek; Seven Mile Road Meningie; Narrung Road, Meningie; Wellington East; Jervois; Mypolonga; Monarto South; Elwomple
Description of community needs:
The Murraylands and Coorong region of South Australia is known for its irrigation and dryland farming, food and wine production, as well as world-renowned natural attractions and internationally recognised tourism experiences.
Mobile reception is critical for business operations and economic growth of the region.
The region is high risk of significant flood and bush fire events, as well as road trauma along its major freight routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Many localities in this region have experienced a loss in mobile reception following the 3G switch off.
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Manoora township
Description of community needs:
Manoora, population of 277, is situated on the Barrier Highway, a major northeast route, crossing the border into New South Wales. Locals and visitors passing through experience no coverage.
Surrounded by farming land, the township is prone to bushfires along with significant vehicle accidents on the highway, experienced in recent years.
Coverage is essential for emergency management for the safety of locals and visitors alike.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Yamba, Angourie and Wooloweyah
Description of community needs:
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.
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Port Germein Gorge
Description of community needs:
Port Germein Gorge in the Southern Flinders is an essential transport corridor linking Augusta Highway to Horrocks Highway.
There is no mobile reception at all, the 26 kilometres road is extremely winding, sparsely populated, very heavily wooded, with steep cliffs and blind corners.
It is classified as a scenic drive and attracts many tourists. The 2014 Bangor bushfire destroyed the road which had to be completely rebuilt.
Due to the extreme risk of fire and motor accidents, Port Germein Gorge is considered a priority. The Gorge is the direct route to the Port Pirie Health Services for Melrose, Wirrabara and Booleroo Centre.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Horrock's Pass
Description of community needs:
Horrock’s Pass Southern Flinders is an essential transport corridor linking Augusta Highway to Horrocks Highway.
There is no mobile reception, the 21 kilometres road is extremely winding, with no nearby habitation to seek for help, very steep, hot and dry in summer with many blind corners. It is classified as a scenic drive and attracts many tourists.
Hancock Lookout is accessed from Horrock’s Pass and offers a popular RV campsite. The wind farm attracts additional heavy traffic.
There have been a number of vehicle accidents recorded and the 2012 Horrock’s Pass Bushfire burned 2,600 hectares of scrub. Numerous fires have since happened at the Pass.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Murray Town
Description of community needs:
Murray Town, Southern Flinders (population of 58) has no network coverage.
Situated on Horrocks Highway, a transport corridor linking the Clare Valley to the Flinders Ranges, Murray Town hosts a very popular RV camping site that attracts many campers, notably grey nomads who may need medical assistance.
It is an important and fertile agricultural region. The 2014 Bangor fire severely affected Murray Town.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Hughes Gap
Description of community needs:
Hughes Gap located at the southern end of Beetaloo Valley (population 75) is approximately 16 kilometres from Gladstone (population 745) and 6 kilometres from Crystal Brook (population 1,322).
The black spot is east of the landmark water tanks (on the southern side of the Wilkins Highway) and between the Crystal Brook and Laura turn offs on Wilkins Highway, a popular east–west route for locals and visitors across the Yorke and Mid North.
Historically the area has been affected by bushfire including the devastating Bangor fire in 2014. Communication for the safety of visitors and locals for emergency warnings should be paramount.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
Saddleworth township
Description of community needs:
Saddleworth (population of 470) is bisected by the Barrier Highway, a major northeast route, crossing the border into New South Wales. Locals and visitors passing through experience intermittent coverage.
Surrounded by farming land, the township is prone to both bushfire and flooding with significant events experienced in recent years, accompanied by extended power outages.
Reliable coverage is essential for emergency management for the safety of locals and visitors alike.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
SA
Community Location:
431 Bungaree Road, Bungaree
Description of community needs:
Bungaree Station, a heritage-listed site established in 1841, attracts 8,500–10,000 visitors annually and contributes significantly to regional tourism and the economy.
The lack of reliable mobile coverage, worsened since the 3G shutdown, affects visitor and resident safety, business operations, and emergency management in this bushfire-prone area.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
WA
Community Location:
Inkpen, Burlong, Wundowie, Wootatting and Southern Brook
Description of community needs:
Several localities within the Shire of Northam have limited mobile phone coverage.
A number of these are located are within designated bush fire prone areas and communicating with residents and landowners regarding emergency situations is difficult.
In addition, a number of emergency responders that live in the area rely on mobile phone coverage for mobilisation to incidents which has the potential to impact response times and effectiveness.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
