Much-needed mobile phone reception around Mathoura is now one step closer.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Improved mobile phone reception near Mathoura is one step closer to reality.
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On Monday, March 31, contractors for a major telecommunications company could be seen at Picnic Point, surveying a possible site for a new phone tower.
Norman Berger, who owns the property the tower is proposed to be built on, said the area had needed a telecommunications upgrade for a long time.
“Reception virtually doesn’t exist out here,” he said.
“Even though we’re only nine or 10km from town, the problem (the signal) has is getting through the trees.”
Norman Berger said he had long advocated for a boost to mobile reception in the area.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
To make a phone call or send a text message, Mr Berger often has to wander around his property in the hope of picking up reception, or otherwise drive into town.
He said the issue became worse during busy holiday periods, when the spike in visitors overloads the phone towers, affecting both tourists and residents.
“There's always something going to happen with that many people around where you need emergency services,” Mr Berger said.
“A lot of people, too, are getting on. They’re seniors and a lot of them need medical attention.
“Once again, if something happens, they want to be able to ring an ambulance.”
Contractors marking a possible location for the proposed phone tower.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Improved reception would not only increase safety, Mr Berger said, but also reduce costs for residents who rely on landlines.
Although it’s yet to be approved, seeing the tower progress towards development has been a welcome sight for Mr Berger.
“It’s very gratifying. I’ve spent years and years trying to get the tower here,” he said.
The telecommunications company is expected to lodge a development application for the tower with Murray River Council, according to Mr Berger.
Manager of development services Jess McFarlane said the timeline for developments like this could be influenced by multiple factors.
Preliminary work must be undertaken by the telecommunications company before an application is lodged and assessed by the council.
Depending on the application’s quality and feedback received from a public participation process, among other procedures, the tower may be operational around 12 months from now.
Poor mobile reception is an ongoing issue around Mathoura, but has received recent attention from the government.
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