Community Location:
Stewart Creek Valley - Far North Queensland
Description of community needs:
The Shire recently suffered catastrophic damage from TC Jasper and subsequent flooding, leaving residents trapped by floodwater and without power or essential services such as potable water.
Stewart Creek Valley was especially impacted and with no mobile service residents were isolated during the crisis. Residents couldn’t receive evacuation notices, weather updates or check on other's safety.
Lack of coverage worsens during the FNQ wet season when regular flooding of creeks and landslides cut off access to essential services.
Stewart Creek Valley is a high-risk bushfire and landslide zone and with no service residents can't receive emergency alerts.
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Willow Tree
Description of community needs:
Willow Tree suffers from poor mobile phone coverage, limiting the capacity of businesses to operate in an increasingly digital world.
The Willow Tree Public School is at risk of isolation through flooding, so mobile coverage is essential to ensure quick communication.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Currabubula
Description of community needs:
Currabubula suffers from poor mobile phone coverage, limiting the capacity of businesses to operate in an increasingly digital world.
Currabubula is on the foot of a heavily vegetated mountain which is a high fire hazard. In 2023 a bushfire came within a kilometre of the town.
Mobile coverage is essential to ensure public safety, and business prosperity.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
QLD
Community Location:
Nandi, Kupunn
Description of community needs:
Clifford Weir, landholders in Nandi, Kupunn west of Dalby are struggling with mobile coverage since 3G closure.
They can see communication towers in Dalby from the farm, but it is impossible to make phone calls as they drop out or they can only hear every second word.
They have boosters in the house and all vehicles. Arrow Energy representatives have informed him that if he can get the wheels turning, they have room on their communication towers for Telstra to put up infrastructure to improve the coverage.
There is a tower on the Broadwater Road and another 17 kilometres North West of it near the Nandi-Daandine Road.
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Tallarook - 3659
Description of community needs:
Mitchell Shire Council is working on a community-led emergency planning initiative to enhance resilience in high fire risk areas, including Tallarook, a rural town affected by various natural disasters.
A key theme is community connection, crucial for effective emergency planning and recovery.
Given Tallarook's isolation, a reliable telecommunications network is vital for connecting residents and visitors during emergencies, where many recreational activities occur.
Improving mobile reception along Goulburn Valley Highway and throughout Tallarook will significantly aid in emergency response, ensuring better safety for 748 residents and visitors.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Arthurs Creek, Bend of Islands, Cottles Bridge, Christmas Hills, Panton Hill, Kangaroo Ground, Smiths Gully, St Andrews, Strathewen, Watsons Creek, and eligible parts of Yarrambat.
Description of community needs:
Mobile black spots in Nillumbik Shire present problems in emergency situations and the day-to-day lives of residents. 80% of community members who completed a survey stated poor connection occurs 24 hours a day.
The vast rural areas of Nillumbik make it a dangerous region to experience loss of connection during summer months due to bushfire risk and in times of severe weather events.
Severe weather and fire events have affected our region in 2022 and 2021 (storm and flood events) and the 2009 Black Saturday fires.
Reliable coverage is essential to ensure local emergency service providers and our community has 24/7 access in their times of need.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
QLD
Community Location:
Macleay Island, Lamb Island, Russell Island, Karragarra Island, Mt Cotton, North Stradbroke Island, and Sheldon
Description of community needs:
Residents on the mainland suburbs of Sheldon and Mt Cotton, on North Stradbroke Island, and on the surrounding Southern Moreton Bay Islands of Macleay Island, Lamb Island, Russell Island and Karragarra Island are struggling with poor mobile reception.
In these suburbs, homes and businesses have reported major problems with service, preventing them from living their lives and running their businesses.
Mr Pike's office has heard from countless locals who are struggling and frustrated by the lack of service they have. Redlanders have helped map the problem.
Mr Pike invites further investment in the region so that people living in the suburbs can get on with their lives with quality mobile reception.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Locksley
Description of community needs:
Locksley is situated adjacent to the Hume Highway in north central Victoria.
It is a small isolated farming community and there is a significant gap in coverage of the locality and the nearby Hume Highway, meaning that both locals and travelers on the main Sydney to Melbourne road are unable to access reliable communications during emergencies.
This lack of access also affects farming and other commercial activities.
State or Territory:
VIC
Community Location:
Euroa Mansfield Road, Gooram
Description of community needs:
The Euroa Mansfield Road is a busy road that facilitates movement between the Hume Highway and the Maroondah Highway at Merton.
During the winter months, it carries high numbers of traffic seeking access to some of the Victorian snowfields. The Gooram waterfalls are a major tourist attraction.
The district sits in the Strathbogie ranges, is isolated, subject to bushfires and long-term power outages and residents as well as visitors are at risk, particularly in times of emergency.
State or Territory:
NSW
Community Location:
Bundarra
Description of community needs:
The current capacity for Bundarra is inadequate as confirmed by Telstra. In Telstra's own words:
"In preparing to switch off our 3G network, Telstra upgraded the 4G network so that they could be confident it would match the footprint of our 3G network. Our mobile base station that services Bundarra is delivering 4G to the community, but there is currently some congestion".
This has led to residents not having mobile signal, and not being able to use EFTPOS terminals, affecting businesses. This requires urgent attention.
This area is prone to bushfire disasters and is a key route between Armidale and Inverell.
Co-contributions:
• Willing to discuss potential co-contributions (financial and/or in-kind) with program applicants
