New mobile towers remove Shire ‘black spots’

Murrindindi Shire residents are now seeing the results of Council’s advocacy with support from Federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan for improved mobile phone service coverage in mobile phone “black spot” areas in the Shire.

Flowerdale’s new telecommunications tower near the CFA Shed on Kinglake-Flowerdale Road (C729) was launched in December 2017 and new towers are being built in Yea at the Junction Hill Bushland Reserve, Killingworth and Highlands.

The combination of these four towers – with the capacity to carry both 3G and 4GX technology – is expected to remove black spots through the Kinglake-Flowerdale-Yea- Highlands corridor.

Mayor Charlie Bisset said the new towers mean residents could anticipate significant improvement in mobile phone service through these areas of the Shire.

“The improved service will certainly be welcomed by all phone users in these areas, whether they’re passing through, or live in areas which currently have limited or no coverage,” Cr Bisset said.

“I’m sure we’ll all feel better connected to our communities after they’re up and running.

“Council has already advocated very strongly for these improvements over the past few years together with Cathy McGowan.

“In total we have been able to secure Federal Government funding for eight new mobile phone base stations in our Shire.

“One of these was the Devils River tower overlooking Lake Eildon which was built in 2017 and has created significant improvements in safety and visitor satisfaction for both locals and visitors using the lake and its surrounds.

“We’re looking forward to the Yea and Killingworth towers being operational in the first quarter of the year, followed by Highlands, which is scheduled to be completed during the year.”

For more information about the Black Spot Program roll-out go to Telstra’s Black Spot Program website:  https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/mobile-black-spot-program.