Advocate for improved phone reception across the Sorell municipality
Current situation
- Mobile phone reception is unreliable or unavailable in parts of the Sorell municipality.
- Black spots affect residential areas, rural roads, and our coastal communities.
- Poor reception impacts residents, businesses, emergency response, and visitors to our area.
- Community members regularly report dropped calls and lack of data coverage across the municipality including the Dodges Ferry Primary school which impacts after-school pick ups and school activities
- The Federal Government operates a The Mobile Black Spot Program (the MBSP) initiative that invests in telecommunications infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and competition across Australia.
The issue
- Inadequate phone reception creates safety risks, particularly during emergencies (medical, fire, accidents, thefts, domestic violence).
- Poor coverage limits access to services, remote work, education, and healthcare
- Businesses and tourism operators are disadvantaged by unreliable connectivity to phone and internet.
- Residents experience frustration and reduced quality of life due to ongoing phone reception issues.
My plan
- Engage with the community to gather data on coverage gaps and service impacts
- Work with telecommunications providers to identify priority areas for upgrade.
- Advocate to state and federal governments for improved mobile coverage across the municipality.
- Support applications through Council to the federal government Mobile Black Spot Program and similar grant funding opportunities.
- Explore council support for infrastructure solutions where appropriate.
Benefits
- Improves community safety and emergency communication.
- Enhances access to services, education, and remote working.
- Supports local businesses and strengthens the local economy.
- Improves connectivity for residents and visitors.
- Increases liveability and resilience across the Sorell municipality.