Cedar Creek valley residents flock to hill for phone reception as they fight to fix black spot

Hundreds of residents in this small outer-Brisbane community, just 33km from the CBD, have such terrible phone reception they need to climb a local hill just to send a text message.

A group of 200 residents has to flock to “Telephone Hill” to get a scrap of mobile phone reception in an outer Brisbane community.

They live just 33km from Brisbane’s CBD (less than the distance from Caboolture to Chermside) but still residents of Cedar Creek, just out of Samford, can be spotted every day with their mobile phones out atop the hill tying to send and receive text messages, make calls and use their mobile banking apps.

Helen Green is a Cedar Creek resident who says funding was granted for the project two years ago through the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program. Picture: John Gass

The Cedar Creek black spot has been an ongoing issue for residents who also depend on unreliable ADSL internet, meaning even internet-based texts and calls are at times unavailable.

Local Helen Green, who is behind a community push to have a mobile phone tower installed in the town, said funding was granted for the project two years ago through the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program but yet residents were still waiting for progress.

Ms Green spent time rallying hundreds of locals to join the call for the funding, and those residents were “so excited” when the funding was granted.

However she said the site initially earmarked for the mobile phone tower at Andy Williams Park was deemed unsuitable and there had not been a decision on an alternative location since.

Later, fearing the funding would be withdrawn if no suitable site was located, Ms Green and other residents compiled a list of six land owners who were interested in facilitating the tower, however Telstra has since said the could not find a land owner to accommodate the equipment.

“What we would like is some community consultation,” Ms Green said.

Ms Green said many Cedar Creek locals either ran their own business from home or had started working from home since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of mobile reception, coupled with the unreliable ADSL internet was “seriously” wearing on patience.

“I literally have to drive to the top of the nearest mountain (for reception)... we call it Telephone Hill.

“(It’s where) all of my neighbours do their phone calls, texts and banking.

“It’s seriously wearing on my patience.

“(So close) to the city, we shouldn’t have to live like this.

“I don’t know why we’re second class citizens.”

Sam Irvine, Danny Irvine, Matthew Siveter, Paul Donohue, Helen Green, Fleur Hannila and Lea de Groot. Picture: John Gass

Resident Paul Donahue said one of the biggest issues cropped up for residents when they needed to input a code sent via text message in order to access a web page for banking or the likes.

Residents would have to race up the mountain in order to receive the message and hope they had not run out of time to enter the code.

“They’re tricky to handle,” he said.

“You can’t pay for an Uber.”

He said another issue was met by the streams of visitors to the area, particularly those who visit and swim at Cedar Creek Falls.

Both Mr Donahue and Ms Green said that on many occasions visitors would need to run door-to-door seeking help after an accident either at the water or on the road because they could not call for assistance on their phones.

“You see them running down the road screaming for help... desperately trying to get reception,” Ms Green said.

However a Telstra spokeswoman said the tower would no longer go ahead.

“The site at Andy Williams Park is not progressing as the council was not supportive of the candidates submitted for consideration, and there were no land owners that would accommodate the equipment,” the spokeswoman said.

“As the site is frustrated – meaning no suitable location can be agreed for placement that also meets the coverage requirements specified by the Department of Communications – there is no funding or support to continue.

“The State and Commonwealth (governments) have both been advised.

“Telstra are willing to work with council to potentially leverage future Mobile Blackspot or Connectivity grants.”

However, a Moreton Bay Regional Council spokeswoman said the council had never recieved an applicaiton from Telstra.

“Moreton Bay Regional Council has not received a submission from Telstra regarding a mobile tower at Andy Williams Park,” a council spokesperson said.

“Council would welcome a submission from Telstra to help improve coverage for local residents in the area.

“Council also offers free pre-lodgement advice, which Telstra and any other organisation can use to seek clarification or advice on development proposals.”

Cedar Creek residents what better internet and mobile reception at Cedar Creek. Picture: John Gass