Riverina's Mobile Black Spots Discussed

FEDERAL Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, today welcomed Paul Fletcher MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, who is responsible for implementing the Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme.

Mr Fletcher visited Tumut and Narrandera, where community consultations were held for the community to highlight their concerns with mobile phone coverage.

“The Coalition is delivering on its election promise to invest $100 million to improve mobile phone coverage in outer metropolitan, regional and remote communities around Australia,” Mr Fletcher said. The Programme has two elements:

• the $80 million Mobile Network Expansion Project will improve mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in areas that are prone to experiencing natural disasters; and
• the $20 million Mobile Black Spot Project will improve mobile coverage in locations with unique coverage problems such as areas with high demand for services.

“Mobile phone balckspots and coverage issues are a very high priority for many Riverina communities,” Mr McCormack said.

“Many communities have contributed to the Government’s Mobile Coverage Program discussion paper. This highlighted the concerns of many people in the Riverina about poor mobile service.

“I am very pleased Paul Fletcher has come to two communities in the Riverina today to hear our concerns first hand. Paul and I understand these concerns and will work hard to ensure parts of the Riverina can benefit from this critical mobile coverage program,” Mr McCormack said.

The Government is accepting nominations of mobile black spots until the end of June 2014. Anyone wishing to report a mobile black spot can email [email protected].