Liberals, Labor pledge Bellarine mobile upgrades

THERE will be better mobile phone coverage in parts of the Bellarine Peninsula regardless of who wins next month’s federal election, with Labor and the Liberals both making commitments towards the issue.

Last week, the Morrison Liberal Government announced $78.5 million towards projects addressing mobile phone and connectivity issues in outer urban and urban fringe areas under the Connecting Regional Australia initiative.

Eligibility for this future funding will be expanded beyond major cities, which were the focus of the Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP), to include the urban fringe of large urban areas such as Geelong.

“An important part of my local plan for Corangamite is ensuring local residents get the services and support they need wherever they live,” Liberal candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher said.

“After campaigning so hard for better mobile communications across Corangamite, the extension of the PUMP to fast growing regions such as Geelong is a major win and a big step in the right direction.

“This will drive additional investment and better connectivity into places like Armstrong Creek and the Bellarine which are impacted, in some areas, by poor mobile connectivity.”

The Liberals say the changes to PUMP complement its Mobile Black Spot Program, which is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by building more than 1,000 of a planned 1,200 mobile base stations in regional and remote areas.

On Friday last week, Labor federal member for Corangamite Libby Coker said an elected Albanese Labor government would invest $600,000 to improve mobile coverage in St Leonards, where residents and businesses have been experiencing poor service and dropouts.

Labor says its investment would enable a broader range of tower sites to be considered.

Ms Coker made the election commitment on Wednesday last week at a public meeting she hosted in Portarlington on connectivity issues on the Bellarine.

The meeting followed an online survey Ms Coker conducted earlier this year that identified connectivity problems in several locations on the Bellarine, including St Leonards.

“Reliable mobile coverage and broadband are increasingly essential for enabling residents to stay in touch with family and friends, and for safety,” Ms Coker said. “Labor has a positive plan to improve mobile and broadband connectivity across the community, and improving mobile coverage in St Leonards is a top priority.

“I’ve been working with local communities in my electorate on their mobile and broadband connectivity issues since becoming the local MP.

“After a decade of Liberal government, only now on the eve of an election are the Liberals acknowledging there are problems with connectivity in areas like the Bellarine, and communities like St Leonards.”