Mobile coverage continues to be a challenge in our fast-growing community. No longer a luxury, but now a necessity in today’s society with more and more people working from home, businesses using EFTPOS machines, while others rely on mobile coverage so their medical emergency pendant will operate.
As your federal member, I listen to issues with mobile coverage and raise these issues with the Telcos when I meet with them, advocating and explaining where and why I believe they should invest in new infrastructure like towers to improve our mobile coverage.
But as someone who comes from the private sector and small business background, I believe that proactive solutions are far more beneficial than reactive one’s for everyone. I have spoken to various councillors including our mayor, Peter Flannery, about including mobile communications infrastructure in the Development Application process with developers on new projects. This would provide two benefits. First, the infrastructure would potentially be built at the start of the development rather than towards the end of the project when people have already been living there with no coverage for up to a decade. Secondly, the future site would be completely visible to purchasers of land at the time of purchase. Therefore, the issue of “I want mobile coverage, but I don’t want a tower next to me” would be eliminated, as there would be no surprises.
I am pleased that one troublesome spot, Bellmere, will start to see improvement in their coverage by the end of the year. The second of the four new towers that I was able to secure when the coalition was in government last term, is set to become operational by the end of this year, a third tower by the end of 2025 and the last one at the end of 2026.
If you are having issues with mobile coverage at your home, please let me know by emailing your address to Terry.Young.mp@aph.gov.au. I will discuss your issue with the Telcos and work on getting you a solution. In 2024, everyone needs and deserves good mobile phone service.
Member for Longman – Terry Young
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