Mobile phone coverage in the Mining and Pastoral Region will be vastly improved, thanks to a further $20 million investment over two years made possible by Royalties for Regions.
Released today by the Commonwealth Government, Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Dave Grills MLC said the funding would support 78 sites throughout regional WA.
Mr Grills said this included 78 new mobile base stations and small cell satellite installations to be constructed by Telstra and Optus across WA.
“The new sites will be delivered under Round 2 of the Commonwealth Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program further improving mobile phone coverage throughout regional WA,” Mr Grills said.
“I’m very pleased the Mining and Pastoral Region will benefit from 42 of these 78 site upgrades.
“This important new infrastructure will provide development opportunities for small businesses in remote areas and support other Royalties for Regions initiatives including in the areas of tourism, transport and agriculture throughout the Mining and Pastoral Region.”
In the Goldfields-Esperance and Kimberley regions, 23 sites have been earmarked for improvements including:
|
Mobile Network Operator |
Region |
Location |
Shire |
|
Optus |
Goldfields Esperance |
Alexander Bay (campground) |
Esperance |
|
Optus |
Goldfields Esperance |
Cape Le Grand (Lucky Bay Campground) |
Esperance |
|
Optus |
Goldfields Esperance |
Ilkurlka Roadhouse |
Laverton |
|
Optus |
Goldfields Esperance |
Tjirrkarli |
Laverton |
|
Optus |
Goldfields Esperance |
Tjuntjuntjara |
Menzies |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Bell Gorge |
Derby-West Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Drysdale River Station |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
El Questro |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Ellenbrae Station |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Emma George |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Home Valley Station |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Kalumburu |
Wyndham-East Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Mindibunga |
Halls Creek |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Mt Barnett RH |
Derby-West Kimberley |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Purnululu 2 – Wilderness Lodge |
Halls Creek |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Purnululu 3 – Kurrajong |
Halls Creek |
|
Optus |
Kimberley |
Purnululu Visitor Centre |
Halls Creek |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
Broad Arrow |
Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
Daniell Siding |
Esperance |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
Harms Lake |
Dundas |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
Mount Ney |
Esperance |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
Ora Banda |
Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
|
Telstra |
Goldfields Esperance |
South Cascade |
Esperance |
Mr Grills said the remainder of the 42 funded sites were located in the Pilbara, Mid West and Gascoyne regions.
While Telstra is providing wide area coverage, Optus’ small cell satellite solution is an innovative means of providing mobile phone coverage up to a three kilometre radius for communities and tourist hotspots in remote parts of the State, where wide area coverage is unaffordable.
“The State Government has invested more than $105 million in regional telecommunications since 2012, driving the construction of 344 new or upgraded mobile phone towers and small cell satellite installations in regional WA,” Mr Grills said.
“This project is a result of successful collaboration with the Commonwealth Government and industry, which will continue to support other Royalties for Regions initiatives and narrow the digital divide by eliminating mobile black spots at prioritised locations, including those in the Mining and Pastoral Region.”
The Nationals WA Candidate for Roe Peter Rundle said the Regional Telecommunications Project was a critically important initiative that would ensure people living, working and travelling in regional areas of the state had access to key services.
“Royalties for Regions is playing a significant role in transforming the Goldfields-Esperance region and I look forward to seeing this investment bring greater social and economic benefits to the area,” Mr Rundle said.
Full list of sites attached. For more information, visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/regionalmobilecommunications
For media enquiries contact Dave Grills MLC on (08) 90711 500 or email dave.grills@mp.wa.gov.au
