Having to run to the closest house phone to summon emergency services in Kioloa is a thing of the past, thanks to improved mobile service.
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A new Telstra tower has been switched on at the Kioloa Coastal Campus of ANU giving Bawley Point and Kioloa residents and holidaymakers improved mobile coverage.
Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis announced the activation to a group of switched-on residents, whose calls for a mobile phone tower had been answered.
Mrs Sudmalis said it was critically important to see phone coverage expanding across the region.
“I have been working together with my communities and service providers in identifying areas of need and improvement, and under the Coalition’s program we have been able to co-fund this new base station,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
Bawley Point-Kioloa Community Association president Justin Stanwix said the construction and activation of the tower, under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, was a fabulous result for the community.
“The point is we had no connection for emergency services,” Mr Stanwix said.
“Ambulance, police and fire services would come in here and they couldn’t talk to each other. Half the community could not talk to each other and now they can.”
Bawley Point resident Barrie Ellis said the improved mobile coverage had huge upside for the community and its summertime guests.
“We go from 850 permanent residents to 15,000 over six weeks during Christmas, and not having coverage from a risk perspective was atrocious,” he said.
“You had to run to a house to summon help.”
Mr Ellis praised Kioloa Coastal Campus of ANU manager Steven Teding van Berkhout for pushing the tower to be built there.
Ambulance, police and fire services would come in here and they couldn’t talk to each other. Half the community could not talk to each other and now they can.
- Justin Stanwix
“Steven was instrumental in making it work,” he said.
Telstra Area General Manager Chris Taylor said a new mobile base station to address a notorious black spot in the area was part of a $20 million investment in the South Coast region this year.
“This is an important moment for residents, businesses and visitors in Kioloa, who can now make and receive mobile calls and access high speed mobile broadband through Telstra’s 3G and 4GX services,” Mr Taylor said.
The Mobile Black Spot Program is delivering 867 new base stations over three rounds addressing black spots in every state and territory.
