Shared commitment to address mobile black spots

A REGIONAL advocacy body has called for urgent investment to improve mobile and internet infrastructure and warned that disconnected communities are at risk of falling behind their city counterparts.

Candidates from both sides of federal politics have committed to wiping out mobile black spots at Armstrong Creek and the Bellarine, as telcos reveal new projects to increase coverage at fast-growing town centres.

The Australian Government has released its triennial Regional Telecommunications Review, which investigates the adequacy of communications systems outside of the nation’s major cities.

The 2021 review, finalised last month, identified a “patchwork quilt” approach to regional connectivity and recommended greater co-ordination from top levels of government to facilitate service delivery.

The federal government has indicated it will respond to the report and its recommendations ahead of the delivery of the 2022-23 Budget, scheduled for March 29.

Geelong-Surf Coast region advocacy group G21 said connectivity has been a priority issue in recent years as infrastructure failed to keep pace with the region’s rapid population growth, resulting in a network that lags behind that of major cities.

G21 CEO Giulia Baggio said the report “laid bare” inequity in regional areas and called for increased government spending to address the issue.

“We are encouraged by the report’s recommendation that the government should invest in regional connectivity, and work to reduce the digital skills divide between regional and metropolitan Australia,” she said.

“Large parts of the G21 Region are vulnerable to natural disaster and loss of connectivity, so it is encouraging to see a recommendation for a regional telecommunications resilience fund.

“This should be a priority for funding.”

Ms Baggio said fast-growing communities such as Armstrong Creek and Bannockburn should by prioritised under state and federal funding streams.

The region’s politicians have pledged to continue a recent flow of infrastructure spends with further advocacy in the next federal term.

Liberal candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher announced last week that Armstrong Creek, Bellbrae, Mount Duneed and Queenscliff would all receive 4G and 5G mobile infrastructure upgrades.

She said she would also campaign for a mobile black spot program targeting problem areas along the Bellarine and at Armstrong Creek.

“This is a significant step forward, which I warmly welcome,” Ms Asher said.

“But having spent time listening to local residents, I know that more investment is required to get our mobile phone and internet connectivity up to scratch.

“That is why I am advocating for a new mobile black spot funding program to support large regional growth areas like the Geelong and Corangamite regions.”

But incumbent Corangamite Labor MP Libby Coker said the government had been too late to recognise the problem.

Ms Coker brought the issue to Parliament in the wake of the report’s release, and is petitioning Bellarine residents, including at St Leonards, Indented Head and Curlewis, to support her advocacy for improved mobile coverage.

“(The Liberal candidate for Corangamite) should have been speaking out on this long ago,” she said.

“Federal Liberal-National governments have had nine years to fix these issues. They’ve done nothing.”

Ms Coker said her campaign last year had secured a commitment from Optus to build a new tower in Armstrong Creek and fast-track two further towers.

She said her Bellarine survey was “well advanced” for presentation to telcos to call for further improvements on the peninsula.