21 C
Byron Shire
March 27, 2024

Region’s mobile phone blackspots to be fixed

Latest News

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

Other News

Got a creative theatre idea?

Mullumbimby’s The Drill Hall Theatre Company (DHTC) is offering two creative development opportunities for local independent artists to develop new performance piece concepts.

Democracy on the ropes?

The ancient idea of democracy is under threat around the world. Today, there are only 63 democracies compared to 74 autocracies, and many of these democracies are highly problematic.

Wild dog breeding season can increase attacks on domestic dogs

Local Land Services are reminding landowners to be aware of wild dogs as they have received five reports of domestic dogs being attacked and killed by wild dogs in the last two months.

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Community grants on offer

Ingrained Foundation is running its fifth annual grants program, with a funding pool of $150,000.

Richmond Valley Rail Trail grand opening

The latest leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in style on Saturday, with hundreds of two-wheeled travel enthusiasts spinning along the newly opened 13.4 kilometre section from Casino to Bentley.

Telstra mobile phone tower. Photo: Wikipedia
Telstra mobile phone tower. Photo: Wikipedia

Mobile phone coverage across the northern rivers and Clarence Valley is set to improve improved with an $8.1 million investment to fix 91 local black spots. Is your area on the list?

Page MP Kevin has announced today that 11 new or upgraded base stations would be funded in both regions under the federal government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spots Program.

Page MP Kevin Hogan has welcomed the government's accelerated write downs for farm fencing, tanks and dams . (file pic)
Page MP Kevin Hogan has welcomed the government’s accelerated write downs for farm fencing, tanks and dams . (file pic)

Mr Hogan said the new or upgraded towers would be located at Babyl Creek, Bentley, two at Bonalbo, Copmanhurst, Ettrick, Hernani, Lower Peacock, Nymboida, Culmaran Creek and Pirora.

‘This is a great outcome for our community with a total of $8.1 million to be invested on new or improved mobile coverage across the northern rivers and Clarence Valley,’he said.

‘For far too long, our community has been frustrated by calls dropping out or simply no signal,’ Mr Hogan said.

The black spots that will be fixed are at Afterlee, Alstonville, Angourie, Babyl Creek, Ballina. Bean Creek, Bentley, Bingeebeebra Creek, Black Rocks, Blaxlands Creek, Bonalbo, Boomi Creek, Boorabee Park, Bottle Creek, Boundary Road, Cambridge Plateau, Casino, Cedar Point, Codrington, Collins Creek, Copmanhurst, Culmaran Creek, Doubtful Creek, Dyraaba, East Lismore, Eden Creek, Edenville, Ellangowan, Ellis Road, Ettrick, Evans Head, Fairy Hill, Ghinni Ghi, Goonellabah, Gorge Creek, Grafton, Green Pigeon, Hernani, Iluka, Iron Pot Creek, Joes Box, Junction Hill, Kyogle, Leeville, Little Back Creek, Lower Bottle Creek, Lower Duck Creek, Lower Dyraaba, Lower Peacock, Mylneford, Nymboida, Old Bonalbo, Paddy’s Flat, Pagans Flat, Peacock Creek, Pearces Creek, Pines Road, Piora, Rous, Rous Mill, Ruthven, Sandilands, Sextonville, Shannon Brook, Smiths Creek, South Arm, South Gundurimba, Tabulam, Therese Creek, Tooloom, Toonumbar, Toonumbar Dam, Tucki Tucki, Tunglebung, Upper Duck Creek, Whiteman Creek, Wollongbar, Woolners Arm, Wooloweyah, Wyrallah, Yabbra and Yamba.

Also black spots will be fixed on Bagotville Road between Bagotville and Coolgardie, Bentley Road between Bentley and Boorabee Park, Evans Head road between Evans Head and Woodburn, Lindendale Road between Lindendale and Chesworths lane, Sheppard Street between Tallowood Ave and Canning Drive and Summerland Way between Grafton and Junction Hill.

Mr Hogan today announced a further $60 million in funding for 
round 2 of the program.

To nominate a black spot for the second round, email [email protected]


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

5 COMMENTS

  1. What good news in The Echo today for those in the 1st round. But …

    Crabbes Creek has a number of black spots – I run tourist accommodation and have struggled with the lack of mobile reception in the #260 to #292 Crabbes Creek Road area since I opened in 2004.There are other businesses in the valley as well.

    International and local guests expect mobile coverage – instead they have to drive out towards the highway to pick up a decent signal. Even at the General Store there are issues.

    Telstra wanted me to put up a 30m radio aerial and move it around my 30 acre property to see where a good signal could be found – but with no support from them technically or otherwise. So I pay for 2 landlines to provide practical communication access for the business and guests.

    A private Telstra commercial rep walked the property with his best phone and declared the area a black spot – this is something many in the community have been praying for. It has been consistently raised in discussions with Tweed Council for the Rural Villages Planning Strategy as well and at community meetings.

    I hope Crabbes Creek gets a fair chance in the next round.

  2. I’m sure the CSG Mining companies will appreciate the improved signal at their mine wells. Not to mention the much needed signal for the back-to base video and alarm and well status monitoring.

    The ‘Mobile Phone Hotspot Program’ fills in the signal gaps left by the construction of NBN Co Fixed Wireless Towers – despite the Federal Government DOUBLING the number of towers. One could either ask why the contractor (Ericsson) was not penalised for getting their technology coverage horribly wrong by a factor of 100% wrong – or for what other purpose the government wanted such a high density of towers for. Either way it cost the taxpayer just another $1 billion…

    Of course the towers will use the LTE 4G Technology – the same technology the US wireless giant Verizon announced would command and control the US Military Drone Fleet – all controlled by land based cell towers.

    Coincidentally Australian government sought to buy a US REAPER armed, unmanned drone fleet from the USA last year.

  3. Great NOT… Is there no escape from these terrible radiating towers. My whole family is now electro sensitive and we cannot live near any towers. Their radiation emissions give the kids heart palpitations and migraines not to mention we all now have tinnitus and nerve pain.
    Lloyds of London no longer provide insurance for health claims against mobile phones or wireless (wifi) devices. Owners of properties who receive funds from telco’s, and sign contracts to have towers on their properties cannot get insurance to cover themselves, should anyone sue for claims against their health, which incidently has happened in Sydney.

  4. I am glad to be living in a so called black spot and this is why, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3qCR6xbaq4
    It is good to see Shearwater Steiner School is removing its wi fi after in depth research,they have concluded
    the ‘ possible risks inherent in the use of wireless technology are not justified based merely on the convenience that it provides’

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Hiatus Beers

Launched to market in July 2022, Hiatus Beers is all about brewing crisp, refreshing, full-flavoured, non-alcoholic beer.  The founders (Jules Ryan, Nic Sandery and...

Superbowls

Superbowls is your go-to spot for a burst of woodfired flavour! Nestled in Byron Arts and Industry Estate, the cosy haven serves up delectable...

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival returns to Byron Bay in May, and this year ‘locals favourite’ pub North Byron Hotel will be...

Records galore!

Byron Bay Easter Record Fair returns again to Ewingsdale Hall. Now in its 15th year, the Byron Bay Easter Record Fair is one of the biggest and best in this country. Matt the Vinyl Junkie has spent years on buying trips to the US and Japan scouring dusty warehouses, shops, flea markets and private collections. He can offer an astounding 30,000 records in one place covering most genres.