Phone reception funding to improve services in fire, flood-prone communities

A multimillion-dollar plan to stop phone towers from being destroyed from fire and floods has been revealed, as residents on the outskirts of Sydney make pleas for support.

Vital mobile phone towers in regional and remote communities will be lifted further into the air, with expanded protection zone installed to prevent bushfires and floods from cutting off phone services during natural disasters.

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has revealed plans for a $15 million funding boost to provide communities at risk of fires and flood with mobile reception in dire situations.

The minister said the funding will see the installation of new back-up power generators at mobile service sites, rising infrastructure further off the ground to protect it from floods, and expanding protection zones to prevent damage by bushfire.

Residents in regional communities are being called on to identify black spots as part of a “project noticeboard” established by the Federal Government.

Macdonald Valley Association member Siobhan Mahoney

Macdonald Valley Association member Siobhan Mahoney, who has advocated for improved network services for over a decade, said the lack of phone reception so close to Sydney made things dangerous during fire and flood seasons.

“We’re quite a remote community, but yet we only live 90km away from Sydney so we are still considered metro – just without the advantages of it,” Ms Mahoney said.

While Ms Mahoney is pleased funding could improve mobile services during natural disasters, she said the community needs stronger access to “modern technology” as well.

Residents were left without reception during the Black Summer Fires. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Mobile towers will be lifted to prevent fires and floods from cutting off service.

The Macdonald Valley resident said the area experienced telecommunication services at a “snail’s pace”, revealing the community has extremely limited 3G and 4G mobile coverage, accessible by only a small number of residents.

“We believe it’s a right of every Australian,” she said. “We need the government to recognise that it’s fundamental to our safety and prosperity – not only for fires or floods but for our mental health.”

Ms Mahoney, who is also a volunteer for the Rural Fire Service, said residents were “completely cut off” during the horrific Black Summer fires.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland. Picture David Clark

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland called on community members and leaders to identify locations as part of the Mobile Networking Hardening Program.

“While no communications network can ever be 100 per cent resilient, the Albanese Government is determined to do what we can to keep telco infrastructure up and running during disasters,” she said.