The Wide Bay-Burnett Regional Organisation Of Councils (WBBROC) has called on the State Government to test claims by Telstra that parts of the region should no longer be considered as telecommunications “black spots”.
The State Government is currently trying to prioritise sites that will be eligible for funding as part of the Federal Government’s $10 million Mobile Blackspot Funding program.
WBBROC says the State Government is using Telstra’s current coverage map for the assessment process, and is concerned that a number of the region’s priority areas will not be short-listed.
The coverage map says that some previously identified black spot areas now have hand-held coverage and should no longer be considered as priorities.
WBBROC has requested that a further review be carried out to determine which areas are jointly recommended as priorities.
In May, WBBROC identified its top 10 regional priority black spot areas, which included several sites in the South Burnett.
WBBROC Deputy Chairman South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said he supports the move.
“Council is putting its weight behind the push to ensure that our region has full coverage by the main telecommunication network carriers,” he said.
WBBROC Chairman Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor Mal Forman agrees.
Cr Forman said that in light of natural disasters that have occurred in the Wide Bay-Burnett in recent years, it was vital that black spots be fixed to improve communications during floods and fires.
WBBROC is the peak organisation representing the six councils that make up the Wide Bay-Burnett: South Burnett, Cherbourg, North Burnett, Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.
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