Fraser Coast council writes to Telstra, Optus, Vodafone about mobile coverage
Poor mobile coverage has been identified as a major issue with Fraser Coast councillors asking mobile providers to urgently make changes.
Fraser Coast
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Fraser Coast councillors are calling on mobile providers to urgently improve coverage across the region with black spots becoming a major issue.
Division 5 councillor Jade Wellings this week moved a motion that council write to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to express its concern about declining mobile service in the region.
The council is also asking the mobile providers about their plans to improve the Fraser Coast’s mobile and data coverage.
Ms Wellings said she reached out to fellow councillors who together compiled a list of the areas in the region of the most concern.
They included Toogoom, Craignish, Dundowran Beach, Dundathu, Susan River, Takura, Booral, River Heads and Fraser Island.
More areas of concern for councillors are Bidwill, Magnolia, Nikenbah, Little Tinana, St Helens, The Dimonds, Beaver Rock, west of Oakhurst, and areas between Tinnanbar, Poona, Boonooroo, Little Tuan and Maaroom.
Ms Wellings tabled the Hervey Bay and Maryborough Mobile Testing Report at Wednesday’s meeting to share with the mobile providers.
“I know telecommunications is not a local government issue … but it is something we get asked about a lot,” Ms Wellings told councillors.
“It is something that affects people, particularly since the Covid times where people are working from home … often they’re trying to hotspot from their phones.”
Speaking to reporters, Ms Wellings said she often has residents asking why the Fraser Coast does not have better mobile coverage as a growing region.
While telecommunications is more of a federal government concern, Ms Wellings said the council can “take some action” by writing to mobile providers as these services are important.
Ms Wellings said the list compiled by councillors was not exhaustive, but included areas of the most concern.
The report before council reveals that more than 420km of drive testing had been completed on mobile network coverage across Hervey Bay and Maryborough, focusing on major roads, locations and points of interest.
The signal strength of Optus, Vodafone and Telstra was tested with the Gravelroad Group.
The report reveals there is 0.9 per cent of “very poor signal” and 99.1% of “adequate signal” with Telstra 4G.
Optus 4G had 0.4 per cent of “black spot” and 99.6 per cent of adequate signal.
Vodafone 4G on the other hand had 0.3 per cent of black spot, 2 per cent very poor signal and 97.7 of adequate signal.
Areas of priority outlined in the report include Craignish, Dundowran Beach, River Heads, Nikenbah and St Helens in terms of Telstra, optus and Vodafone coverage.
The Hervey Bay Maryborough Mobile Testing Report will be made publicly available for the community.
Ms Wellings’ motion was passed unanimously by councillors.
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