A PUSH for infrastructure to improve mobile phone service in remote parts of the south-west has reignited after this week’s fires.
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Reports from the Hawkesdale, Macarthur and Penshurst communities condemned the capability of the phone service in times of high demand.
In March last year, Moyne Shire Council approved an application from Telstra to build a second mobile phone tower at Tower Hill. A selling point to councillors was Telstra’s pitch the tower would shore up coverage for emergency communications.
A group of nearby residents, supported by Member for Western Victoria James Purcell, announced they were contesting the planning approval decision and would challenge it at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). In July, Telstra announced it would not go ahead with the tower.
Moyne councillor Colin Ryan said the decision not to build the tower has come back to haunt the community.
He said the tower would have taken some pressure off the network in the district.
“In the light of the events this week, I think the construction of another tower is something that needs to be revisited,” Cr Ryan said.
“Not just to get an upgrade for members of the public but also to improve for our emergency services.”
Mr Purcell said he stood by his opposition to the new tower at Tower Hill but was keen to see services improved.
“I don’t believe there should be development without taken into account the potential cost,” Mr Purcell said.
“But I do 100 per cent support improved telecommunications for our region.”