Mullumbimby Telstra tower fire: Police launch probe into alleged deliberate blaze

A police investigation has commenced after a fire broke loose on a Telstra tower cutting off connection in a flood-affected North Coast town.

Police are investigating a communication tower fire that took place in the Byron Shire.

Emergency services were called to River Terrace, Mullumbimby, following reports the top section of the tower was well alight, about 3am on Friday.

Fire and Rescue NSW attended a short time later and extinguished the blaze.

Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District attended and established a crime scene.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire is underway.

Technicians are currently working to assess the damage and communications may be affected in the area.

In the early hours of this morning we were called to the telstra tower which had caught alight.

Posted by Fire and Rescue NSW Station 388 Mullumbimby on Thursday, March 17, 2022

Byron Shire Council announced mobile reception and communication was suffering as a result.

Telstra Regional General Manager Mike Maromcalled the act “reprehensible”.

“What is already a difficult time for Mullumbimby has been made that much harder by what we suspect is an unnecessary, dangerous and selfish act of vandalism,” he said.

“We’re working closely with NSW Police on their investigation, and we have crews on site this morning to assess the damage and work out how we can bring connectivity back to Mullumbimby as quickly as possible. It could take several days to bring mobile connectivity – in some form – back to the town.

“We’re working on bringing a temporary mobile service in to Mullumbimby but, with a number of our temporary mobile services already deployed elsewhere across the NSW and Queensland flood zones, we’re having to balance the need for mobile connectivity in a number of places at the same time.

“Telstra has always been transparent about the need to not only bring services back online in the immediate aftermath of the floods but also the overwhelming need to upgrade services in Mullumbimby, and the recently completed 4G and 5G upgrade works meant the site was operating better than it ever had before.

“We’ve also been supporting communities at recovery centres with mobile connectivity and hot spots so people can stay in touch with family and friends and services like government agencies.”

Richmond MP Justine Elliot also took to Facebook to issue a statement “disgusted” at the alleged vandals, announcing authorities had disclosed a criminal investigation was underway.

“We have just seen the effects of a lack of communication through an emergency - when people couldn’t use their phones and were stranded without rescue,” she said.

“As a result of these actions, people right now cannot use their mobile phones in or around Mullumbimby.

“This deplorable act by criminals has further crippled our infrastructure when our community has suffered so much from the flood.

“How dare you. This places lives at risk and will significantly set back our recovery.

“To the people who committed this act of bastardry: you are a disgrace to our community. Shame on you.”