FRUSTRATED Bonnie Doon ratepayers have called on Indi Independent federal MP Helen Haines to help improve mobile phone coverage in the region.
Last December Dr Haines welcomed more than $900,000 in federal funding for a new mobile phone tower at Kennedy’s Point, to improve service coverage around Lake Eildon.
The funding is being provided under round three of the government’s regional connectivity program.
Dr Haines said the funding was a "big win" for regional communities who have raised their concerns about poor connectivity and how it impacts their daily lives.
However, Bonnie Doon ratepayer Peter Brett wants Dr Haines to go further.
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“The funding for Kennedys Point is welcome, but the tower may become just another cell loading down the already-overloaded data mobile service into the Mansfield area,” Mr Brett said.
“What we really need to see is legislation for minimum data service standards, especially during peak periods."
Mr Brett and several colleagues own a property on Dry Creek Road in Bonnie Doon, an area which suffers from “slow internet and mobile phone data coverage” during holiday periods.
“During long weekend or popular periods, the service around here just grinds to an absolute halt,” he said.
“Everything is congested and it’s just been getting worse every year.
“I’ve heard several locals talk about EFTPOS machines not working because the service is so slow."
Mr Brett was worried about the potential consequences of slow connectivity during emergencies.
“Say there’s a bushfire and people need to log on to different services to check warnings and maps or access other essential things – what do they do if their phone isn’t loading properly,” he said.
“We rely on the internet in times of crisis.
“We appreciate when our federal member presses successfully for more coverage with additional towers but it’s time for the Federal Government to legislate for minimum data service standards."
Last year, Dr Haines backed recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into regional mobile phone coverage.
The ‘Connecting the country: Mission critical’ report makes 23 recommendations including guaranteeing minimum levels of mobile coverage.
“I understand the challenges and frustrations of poor mobile phone coverage in Bonnie Doon, which is why I worked with Telstra and the Indi Telecommunications Advisory Group to deliver the funding of $900,000 for a new mobile phone tower at Kennedys Point," Dr Haines told the Mansfield Courier this week.
The new tower, along with planned works confirmed by Telstra to upgrade 5G in Bonnie Doon and Mansfield, and a capacity upgrade for the Merrijig tower will also help the local communities across Mansfield Shire be better connected.
"As a regional Independent MP, I have been working with communities across Indi to identify where service needs to be improved, and the funding for Kennedys Point shows that this process and advocacy works," she said.
"Acting on the recommendations in the Connecting the Country: Mission Critical report, released in November 2023, would go a long way to bridging the gap for people living, working and studying in the regions who rely on good mobile phone service, and provide reliable communications during natural disasters and emergencies.
"The government needs to get on with improving mobile connectivity for regional communities and I will be keeping up the pressure for them to do so.
"Like Mr Brett, I believe we need a universal service delivery obligation on mobile service providers to ensure a minimum level of mobile phone service to all Australians regardless of where they live, and I called on the government to implement it in December."
Dr Haines also introduced a Faster Internet for Regional Australia Bill to the Parliament in 2022.
"If legislated it would ensure all regional Australians have access to fast, high-quality, and reliable internet to the same standard as enjoyed by our city cousins," she said.
"Working alongside the community on phone and internet coverage is critical to my work as the Independent MP for Indi and I encourage people to contact my office at helen.haines.mp@aph.gov.au to raise these issues so we can work effectively together to have them addressed.”
