Black Springs needs mobile coverage

It seems bizarre that discussion of the lack of mobile phone coverage in Black Springs has been going on for six years.

Reasons for the delay are numerous. There were the usual objections based on perceived health problems from living near a mobile phone tower, but Telstra have said that the tower proposed for Black Springs would be a low power repeater with a range of only about 500 metres, enough to cover the township and fill the current black hole. (The usual towers have a range of about five kilometres, which is why the tower at Rotary Park can cover the whole of Oberon township and some of the surrounding area.)

The main problem has been finding a location for the tower. Some landowners didn't want it on their property and the final choice was to place it at the Waste Transfer Station on Dog Rocks Road. This has the advantage of being higher than most of the township, allowing better coverage even with the reduced power of the small cell tower.

The problem then became that Crown Lands want to charge Telstra about four times the usual rental for the use of the site. It's easy to cast Telstra as the villain when it comes to telecommunication problems but in this case Telstra is just as frustrated as everyone else. They want to provide the service, but not at an uneconomical cost to the company.

Michelle Swaan, Secretary of the Black Springs Community Association, has been working very hard trying to get some sort of agreement or even compromise between all the parties involved. Not only has she contacted both State and Federal MPs but also the relevant Ministers for the departments involved. She has even had correspondence with the CEO of Telstra. The problem now is that if the matter isn't settled by June 30 there is the possibility that any government funding for the project will lapse and the whole process will have to start again, leaving the residents of Black Springs with no mobile phone coverage unless they drive a few kilometres out of town. Telstra have applied for an extension of the funding deadline, but unless it is granted the black hole will remain black and mobile phones in Black Springs will remain silent.

In the close-knit community of Black Springs, NSW, we face a pressing challenge that affects the well-being and safety of our residents: unreliable mobile phone service. Living in an area surrounded by state forest, we are acutely aware of the importance of having dependable communication avenues, especially considering the potential risk of bushfires.

A significant part of our community comprises individuals with complex medical issues who rely heavily on mobile accessibility to contact emergency services (000), utilize medical alert technologies, and access essential services such as MyGov. The current state of our mobile connectivity leaves these vulnerable members at risk, unable to swiftly reach the support they desperately need in critical moments.

Additionally, Black Springs attracts numerous tourists, drawn by the natural beauty of our region. Many of them depend on reliable mobile networks to use maps and navigation tools, ensuring their safety and enhancing their experience. Without dependable service, visitors may find themselves lost or in need of assistance without any means to reach out.

We urge telecommunication companies and relevant authorities to prioritize improving mobile phone service in Black Springs. Enhancing our mobile infrastructure will not only safeguard our residents and tourists but also promote growth and future resilience in our cherished community.

Please join us in making our plea heard and bringing about change that will protect and benefit everyone in Black Springs. Sign this petition to ensure that our voices echo where it matters most.