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These improvements come through mobile connectivity and resilience upgrades under the Albanese Government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP).
Torquay will share in $40.9 million awarded nationally under PUMP Round 2 which will co-fund 47 projects in natural-disaster prone communities.
The Albanese Government has awarded funding to Amplitel to address longstanding mobile coverage and reception issues in the area.
The project will upgrade an existing Amplitel site to provide new and improved 4G and 5G coverage from TPG that will have back-up power supply of at least 12 hours. This will allow services to operate for longer in the event of a mains power outage caused by a natural disaster.
“The Albanese Government understands how vital telecommunication services are for keeping communities safe, connected and informed during disruptions and natural disasters,” says Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP.
“Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death.”
“This is why we are investing up to $100 million through our Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia to improve the resilience of networks against natural disasters.”
The project is one of 16 successful projects in Victoria under Round 2 of PUMP. In total, Victorian projects will receive $15.7 million in Commonwealth funding, and $14.6 million in co-contributions from the telco industry.
The 16 projects will deliver more than 800 square kilometres of 4G and 5G new improved coverage, to more than 35,000 homes and businesses.
“The PUMP projects are part of this commitment. Better connectivity will allow communities, like those around Torquay, to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters,” she further comments.
“The Albanese Government is pleased to support this project, which will help ensure locals and visitors to Torquay can stay in touch and receive information when they need it most.”
The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the suburbs, creating natural disaster risks for those living and working there. These areas have been historically underserved because of the high cost of deploying infrastructure, difficult terrain, planning challenges and lower population densities.
Natural disasters across Australia have highlighted the need for more reliable mobile services during emergencies, which the Albanese Government is committed to delivering.
Read also: New tech fleet to keep communities connected after natural disaster
The PUMP Round 2 projects were recommended by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts following a competitive, merit-based process.
The PUMP complements other Albanese Government initiatives to improve telecommunications services across Australia, through the $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
“It’s fantastic to have the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP here to announce this project for Torquay. It reflects the Albanese Government’s whole-hearted commitment to improving the resilience of mobile networks across our region,” adds Member for Corangamite Libby Coker MP.
“While no network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, our Government is determined to do what we can to boost the resilience of our telecommunications networks when local communities need them most.”
“Living on the Surf Coast, I know just how important good mobile coverage can be for keeping locals and visitors safe, especially during the peak summer months – I look forward to seeing the connectivity boost this project will deliver for Torquay – it’s a great outcome for our region.”
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