General News
28 September, 2022
Reception booster to receive funds
MEMBER for Wannon Dan Tehan has expressed concerns surrounding funding for a reception boost for Noorat mobile phone users, but the Federal Government has confirmed the projects will still all receive a green light.
MEMBER for Wannon Dan Tehan has expressed concerns surrounding funding for a reception boost for Noorat mobile phone users, but the Federal Government has confirmed the projects will still all receive a green light.
Mr Tehan called on Labor to “urgently confirm” it would deliver the three projects which the Coalition had made commitments to fund prior to the federal election, including new macro cell sites to boost mobile reception at Noorat, Maroona, and Orford.
“Prior to the federal election, the Coalition Government announced it would provide this vital funding for the communities of Orford, Maroona, and Noorat, delivering a major boost in regional connectivity for those areas,” he said.
“Our community has been waiting over three and a half months for the Albanese Government to confirm this project will proceed and so far, we have heard nothing.
“This is just not good enough. These grants were decisions of government.
“The Labor government’s failure to confirm this funding has the potential to put these projects at risk, along with third party project funding committed by telecommunications companies and state governments.”
However, Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland told WD News the projects had already received a firm commitment from the Albanese Government in July 2022.
“The Albanese Government has previously confirmed an intention to honour grants awarded under the Regional Connectivity Program, including Round 2,” she said.
“Formal announcements will be made in due course once proper procedures have been completed.
“Labor’s pre-election commitments under the Better Connectivity Plan also included additional major regional communications investments including $200 million for further rounds of the Regional Connectivity Program, $400 million for multi-carrier mobile coverage on regional roads and improved coverage for regional communities.”
In May this year, Mr Tehan was joined by Corangamite Shire councillors and members of the community to unveil the $708,300 funding to deploy the new Telstra macro cell mobile site in Noorat.
The upgrade was designed to improve handheld coverage in the Noorat area, and received strong support from Corangamite Shire councillors and Noorat residents.