Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP was today joined by the Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield to announce a re-elected Turnbull Government will deliver improved mobile phone coverage to Cedar Creek, North Maclean and Wongawallan as part of an additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Program.
Mr van Manen said the new mobile base stations in Cedar Creek, North Maclean and Wongawallan would bring a much needed boost to mobile coverage, which would benefit residents, businesses and emergency service operators.
“The Turnbull Government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas, which is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing our government’s total investment to $220 million,” Mr van Manen said.
“A Coalition Government is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experience natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand.”
To date, the Mobile Black Spot Program has committed to 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3000 black spots and is the most significant one-time increase in mobile network coverage to regional and remote Australia.
Minister Fifield said following the success of the Coalition’s initial $100 million investment, another $60 million funding round was already underway, with successful locations to be announced by the end of 2016.
“Despite being in Government for six years, Labor did not spend a single dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia,” Minister Fifield said.
