Cottage Point, a notorious mobile phone black spot, set to get major coverage boost
An isolated northern beaches community, which has been battling the bureaucrats for close to 20 years, is about to get decent mobile telephone coverage.
Manly
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One of the northern beaches’ most isolated communities is set to receive new and improved mobile phone coverage.
Residents at Cottage Point, a notorious phone black spot surrounded by Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, have been lobbying authorities since 2002 for an improved mobile service.
And volunteer organisations such as the local Rural Fire Service brigade had been complaining that the area, which attracts 50,000 tourists a year, could be cut off if power to the small existing Telstra landline exchange was disrupted by fire or storms.
Marine Rescue NSW said it has had to radio into a home base and have the home base call paramedics in emergencies.
Now federal Liberal MP for Mackellar, Jason Falinski, who has been fighting for a mobile phone tower since he was elected in 2016, has announced that Cottage Point will get a macro cell (base station), in partnership with Optus.
It will be funded through the federal government’s Mobile Black Spot Program that helps isolated communities with phone coverage.
Despite being only 35km as the crow flies from the CBD, the 53 homes and several businesses at Cottage Point have always suffered from abysmal mobile phone services.
residents often have to drive two kilometres to Christmas Tree Hill to get a phone signal.
Early last year resident Dave Berry collapsed with chest pains. His partner tried to call triple-0 but could not get reception. As a result it took paramedics 35 minutes to arrive, but Mr Berry could not be revived.
Mr Falinski described the announcement as an excellent outcome for everyone involved.
“I am extremely happy with this result,” he said. “It was a tough fight, and the people of Cottage Point have always deserved better.
“I commend Optus for their commitment to this project, and hope there will be options for Telstra to participate into the future.”
Mr Falinski also emphasised the importance of having reliable phone reception in the current COVID-19 health crisis.
“Improved mobile coverage helps family and friends connect, access quality healthcare and conduct business. In the event of an emergency, people need mobile phone reception.
“It is a matter of life and death.”
Resident and Cottage Point RFS Brigade captain, Jon Russell, said it had become a major safety issue because the landline service could not be totally relied on.
“The old Telstra exchange out there is so outdated you might as well use two tin cans joined by a length of string,” Mr Russell said.
“But this news about the phone tower has the whole Cottage Point community in a state of euphoria. Getting that Optus tower is the best news we could have hoped for.
“Jason, and the staff in his office at Narrabeen, all deserve a big pat on the back.”
The latest round of Mobile Black Spot base stations are scheduled to roll out in coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.