I’m very pleased that five areas in the Far North – Cape Tribulation, Whyanbeel, Ayton, Keatings Lagoon and Injinoo – will receive new mobile base stations under Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.
Improved mobile coverage for Cape Tribulation will be fantastic for tourism given that visitors to the region expect to be able to share their experiences as they travel. Businesses and residents at both Cape Tribulation and Whyanbeel have been active in lobbying for this result and I congratulate them on their success.
The new coverage at Ayton extends the footprint of mobile coverage from Wujal Wujal, and a new tower at Hutchinson’s Road near Keatings Lagoon fixes this known black spot just south of Cooktown. Injinoo has also had patchy reception at best.
The locations for Round 2, which will be built by Telstra and Optus, were selected following an appeal to the public to nominate black spots.
Many thanks to all those who took the time to contact my office, and also any local councils or organisations that made a co-funding contribution to the cost of the new towers.
More information about the Coalition Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program can be found at www.communications.gov.au/mbsp.