Switch on date announced for Woolooga mobile phone tower
18th February, 2016
Residents of Woolooga have received some welcome news today, with Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss announcing that a new mobile phone base station is expected to switch-on by the end of June.
Funding for the tower is part of an $864,000 funding package that was announced for Wide Bay under the first round of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spots Programme.
“This new tower is terrific news for the community of Woolooga, which has long-suffered from poor telecommunications services and I’m sure it will be welcomed by local residents,” Mr Truss said.
“This improved mobile phone coverage will provide greater amenity and convenience for local residents, but importantly, will also assist in making the region safer for motorists.
“I recognise that one of the greatest problems for people in rural communities is the delay in accessing emergency services. From that perspective, this upgrade will deliver a real improvement for the residents of Woolooga.
“For several years now I have campaigned as the local Federal Member for mobile phone upgrades in areas of my electorate such as Woolooga. Seeing these upgrades funded and delivered under the Coalition Government’s Mobile Black Spots Programme is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job,” Mr Truss said.
“Unlike the previous Labor Government, which abolished the Coalition’s $2.4 billion Communications Fund in 2007, this Government understands the importance of mobile phone coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia.
“This is why we allocated $100 million for Round 1 of the new Mobile Black Spots Programme and a further $60 million for Round 2.”
The Coalition Government’s Programme is the largest one-time increase in mobile network coverage delivered under a single public funding programme in the history of mobile communications in Australia.
A map of mobile black spot locations and the locations which will receive new or upgraded coverage under the Programme is available from http://nationalmap.gov.au/
