Tech outages disrupting contact with residents in flood zone fixed
Telstra and Glencore teamed up to restore phone coverage to Borroloola after communications had gone down following the flood event.
March 23 update: Phone coverage is back in flood affected Borroloola and McArthur after Telstra and mining company Glencore joined teams to get it back online.
An electrician from McArthur River Mine was flown out to a Telstra site where he was walked through the repairs by technicians.
Telstra regional general manager for the NT Nic Danks thanked the mining company for coming aboard to help out.
“Today mobile coverage was restored around midday today to Borroloola and McArthur,” he said.
“With access into the area still difficult, we give a massive thanks to Glencore for offering to supply an electrician and a helicopter from the McArthur River Mine and today being able to visit one of our repeater sites just out of McArthur.
“We had identified that if we could get power back at that site, it should enable the other two sites to be able to reconnect with our network and get back on air.
“It’s a great example of Territorians working together to help each other out.”
Mr Danks said plans were in place for further checks on the infrastructure on Sunday.
“Tomorrow, Telstra techs in a chopper are still planning to visit our base stations and repeater sites that link Borroloola back to our broader network near the Stuart Highway,” he said.
“They will check all the equipment and where possible top up our batteries and generators to help keep them on air until floodwaters reside and access becomes easier again.
“We know it has been challenging for everyone in the area during this time and we thank them for their understanding.”
March 22: Tech outages are causing communication problems between Police, Fire and Emergency Services headquarters in Darwin and those in flood-affected Borroloola, with some of those not evacuated upset at being left behind.
More than 300 Borroloola residents are currently being housed at Foskey Pavilion after being evacuated from the flood affected region on Wednesday and Thursday due to flooding from ex-tropical cyclone Megan.
Incident Controller Sonia Kennon said evacuations went well despite some residents left behind believing they should have been on the first flights out.
“I understand there are some concerns in the community about the partial evacuation,” she said.
“The intent of the partial evacuation was to reduce the impact upon the community.
“By evacuating a partial amount of persons out of the community means that we have reduced the commitment required for the local controllers in that area and it also relieved any additional requirements to provide shelter and accommodation and food to those persons.
“The evacuations were the most vulnerable first, it was a fast pace and I understand that there are people there that are saying that they should have gone because their house is inundated.
“Due to the requirement for us to move at a rapid rate sometimes out of our control and it’s just a matter of trying to do the best that we can at the time.”
Ms Kennon said Telstra outages in the area were hampering communications between both incident controllers and loved ones, but repairs were on the way.
“There is limited connectivity or communication available and Telstra is expected to be flown in there Saturday or Sunday to make those repairs,” she said.
Flood waters have peaked at Borroloola and will slowly recede, but having reached once in 100 year levels, there are no answers to when those evacuated will get to go home.
“There’s a group of people out there that are trying to provide a rapid response survey of each house that was inundated with water,” Ms Kennon said.
“We will quickly assess as to what is required to get that house back to being operational, and have a certificate of compliance provided for that occupant for the house so that people can return very, very quickly.”
With ex-TC Megan moving across the southern part of the Territory towards Western Australia, other areas are now under flood watch.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shenagh Gamble said the BoM was keeping an eye on the Victoria River, but rainbands in the south were of more concern.
“Notable rainfall totals to this morning include 128mm at Rapid Flat, 106mm at The Granites and 84mm at Lajamanu,” she said.
“So those locations have now had a couple of days of this kind of rainfall totals and our severe weather warning has been contracted to the southwest of the Northern Territory.
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“This includes communities south and east of The Granites, so that includes Papunya, Yuendumu, Nyirripi and Ti Tri, but it doesn’t include Alice Springs.
“This warning is still for heavy rainfall with daily totals up to 120mm outside of this severe weather warning.”
People in those areas are urged to keep an eye on weather forecasts and warnings, and Territory wide people should avoid driving in floodwaters.
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