Local Member Hon Mia Davies has welcomed the news that the electorate will benefit from 12 new mobile phone towers thanks to $20m from Royalties for Regions and funding from the Commonwealth Government.
The new mobile base stations and small cell satellite installations are 12 of the 78 to be constructed by Telstra and Optus across WA.
“The new sites will further improve mobile phone coverage throughout the Central Wheatbelt electorate and regional WA,” Ms Davies said.
The new towers will be delivered by Telstra in the locations of Aldersyde (Shire of Brookton), Ardath (Shire of Bruce Rock), Bally Bally (Shire of Beverley), Bullfinch (Shire of Yilgarn), Bulyee (Shire of Corrigin), Coondle (Shire of Toodyay), Kondut (Shire of Wongan-Ballidu), Konnongorring (Shire of Goomalling), Manmanning (Shire of Dowerin), Pantapin (Shire of Quairading), South Yelbini (Shire of Tammin) and Wogerlin Hill (Shire of Corrigin).
“Improving mobile phone reception and access to data continues to be one of the key issues raised with me, and while we’ve already invested a significant amount there’s more to do,” Ms Davies said.
“It’s important for our businesses, agriculture, tourism, transport, as well as community safety. A mobile phone signal can literally be the difference between life and death in some cases.
“Without Royalties for Regions this program would not exist, and while it’s not a State Government responsibility, our Nationals’ MPs know how important this infrastructure is to people living and working in country WA.”
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.
Member for the Agricultural Region Hon Martin Aldridge MLC said the Regional Telecommunications Project was ensuring people living, working and travelling in regional areas of the state had access to key services.
“Royalties for Regions is reducing the digital divide with the city, and bringing greater social and economic benefits to Central Wheatbelt communities,” Mr Aldridge said.
For more information, please visit –http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/regionalmobilecommunications
For media enquiries please contact Mia Davies on 08 9041 1702 (Merredin office), 08 9622 2871 (Northam office) or email mia.davies@mp.wa.gov.au.
