Local mobile coverage is about to get a huge boost.
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New mobile base stations will be built at Bedgerabong, Jemalong, Eugowra and Warroo under the Federal Government’s mobile black spot program.
Construction is expected to start within four months and roll out over the next three years.
It will change life and business in the Jemalong Irrigation area and chairman Stuart French is eager for work to start.
Base stations will be built on Manna Mountain and the Jemalong Range, boosting coverage locally and as far as Forbes, Bogan Gate, Burcher and Condobolin.
Mr French said they would make a huge difference to business as well as homes.
“Jemalong Irrigation is in the process of modernising our water delivery system and it is heavily reliant on telemetry,” he said.
Precision agriculture relies on good mobile coverage, and with the new technology irrigators will be able to control their water systems from the phone.
“There are also the households, children, schools, ambulance and fire brigade that will all benefit,” Mr French said.
“One of the benefits is that you will have hand-held mobile coverage all the way from Forbes to Condobolin.
“The Manna Mountain tower also feeds back to Forbes and will take the pressure off the service in town.”
Jemalong Irrigation contributed a six-figure sum to the project, Forbes Shire Council provided in-kind work and a cash contribution and Lachlan Shire Council provided in-kind work.
Funding also came from the federal and state governments and three local Jemalong businesses have indicated their financial support.
Mr Cobb said Jemalong showed what could be achieved when government and business worked together.
“I was always confident we would get one tower (in this electorate), I thought we might get two, but I never dreamed we’d get three,” he said.
The funding allocation is part of the government’s mobile black spot program, which identified 149 black spots in the electorate.
“This announcement will see 84 of those mobile black spots receive coverage,” Mr Cobb said.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that that Calare has been successful in gaining such a high number of base stations. Locations for base stations are spread right across the electorate, filling in black spot coverage for villages, highways and rural and business areas.”
Mayor Phyllis Miller was also delighted.
“The increased service opens up so many opportunities in these areas – better coverage, increased on farm safety and also a huge benefit for business,” she said.
“Securing the funding was a great team effort between Council and Jemalong Irrigation and most importantly local federal member John Cobb.”
Mr French congratulated the Federal Government on the success of the mobile black spot program and thanked Member for Calare John Cobb and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton for their support through the process.
“Our next priority is to ensure timeliness of construction and that the towers have plenty of (data) capacity,” he said.
