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).<\/p>\n
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 \u201csmall cell\u201d upgrades \u2013 which do not need an extra tower to be built \u2013 from Telstra by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
A new mobile phone tower will also be constructed in Birregurra.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsistent 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,\u201d Ms Henderson said.<\/p>\n
In the electorate of Corangamite, 14 towers have been funded through the MBSP\u2019s first two rounds.<\/p>\n
The next four \u2013 Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Bellbrae and Birregurra \u2013 were revealed last year to be built in round three, with a tender process announced in November.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 Labor claims that only 19 of the 125 towers in the round were to be in Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile 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,\u201d Ms Henderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am extremely pleased that areas of high bushfire risk have been prioritised, including along the Great Ocean Road, in the Otways and in Dereel.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n