Published on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 at 9:38:13 AM
We recently shared news of mobile coverage improvements under the Federal Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).
On 10 June the Federal Government announced that a further 51 projects will be funded under the RCP. This includes the installation of a Telstra 4G macro cell base station in Catterick. The new base station is intended to provide improved mobile coverage to support the uptake of agricultural and business technologies by primary producers and other local industries, as well as enabling increased residential and commuter access to essential services and emergency communications along two major subregional roads. The new station will be located in the vicinity of the intersection of Greenbushes-Boyup Brook Road and Kendall Road. The Shire has 2 reserves nearby that could potentially accommodate this infrastructure. Alternatively Telstra may consider developing on private land subject to obtaining landowner agreement
Over many years we have worked with the South West Development Commission (SWDC) to identify mobile blackspots so that if funding opportunities became available we would have proposals to put forward. Last year SWDC advised that the Catterick locality had been shortlisted for further consideration so we provided more information to support an application. We explained that the Catterick area currently has very mixed telecommunications coverage with some areas having no coverage at all. Catterick is an area of prime agricultural land with increasing diversity of small and large producers. Improved mobile telecommunications will result in increased productivity by supporting flexibility and innovation, and generating cost and time savings for those businesses.
The Greenbushes-Boyup Brook Road and Bridgetown-Boyup Brook Road would both be within the service area of a new telecommunications tower in Catterick. Both roads are important links between Boyup Brook and Greenbushes and Bridgetown respectively with a number of residents of Boyup Brook travelling to those centres daily for employment. The roads are also important tourist routes. Bushfire is a constant threat in rural communities and Catterick is no exception. There has been a number of bush fires in this locality in recent years and debriefs after these events always highlight the value of good telecommunications coverage in providing an effective response.
The new tower will improve the quality and consistency of mobile coverage within our Shire.
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