Better mobile coverage coming to Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Bellbrae and Birregurra

MOBILE phone reception will get better in Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Bellbrae and Birregurra with the federal government announcing the towns would get upgrades through its Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).

On Tuesday, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson announced that under round 3 of the program, the mobile base stations in the three towns would get “small cell” upgrades – which do not need an extra tower to be built – from Telstra by the end of the year.

A new mobile phone tower will also be constructed in Birregurra.

“Consistent with our election commitment, I am delighted that our government, in partnership with Telstra, is delivering these vital improvements to mobile reception on the Surf Coast,” Ms Henderson said.

In the electorate of Corangamite, 14 towers have been funded through the MBSP’s first two rounds.

The next four – Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Bellbrae and Birregurra – were revealed last year to be built in round three, with a tender process announced in November.

Earlier this year, the state Labor government held back the $11 million it had earmarked for round 3 of the MBSP, saying that the federal Coalition was playing favourites about which sites were being chosen for towers – Labor claims that only 19 of the 125 towers in the round were to be in Victoria.

“While not impacting on the delivery of these mobile upgrades, it is unacceptable that the Victorian Labor government turned its back on the people of Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Bellbrae and Birregurra by reneging on a funding commitment to our Black Spots Program,” Ms Henderson said.

“I will continue to fight for greater investment in mobile communications, including for Moggs Creek as I committed to do at my recent community meeting in Aireys Inlet.”

She said many of the towers in Corangamite were already active, and all 18 base stations were scheduled to be up and running by the end of this year.

“I am extremely pleased that areas of high bushfire risk have been prioritised, including along the Great Ocean Road, in the Otways and in Dereel.”