Residents of Western Australia will soon be better connected following successful applications for funding new mobile blackspot towers, broadband and telecommunication upgrades under Round 2 of the Regional Connectivity Program.
Minister for Regional Communications, Bridget McKenzie said the projects form part of the Coalition Government’s continuing roll-out of the $257 million Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).
The $37.8 million in Coalition Government funding will be invested across regional, rural and remote Western Australia to deploy a combined six macro mobile base stations, two fixed wireless networks, upgrades to existing mobile base stations and upgrading the nbn™ service technology in several locations from nbn™ Sky Muster Satellite to nbn™ Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology.
Through Round 1 of the RCP, the Coalition Government funded more than 130 projects in regional, rural, and remote communities, while these Round 2 projects will now build upon the Government’s past investment in the Program.
“These Round 2 projects will build upon the Government’s past investment in the Mobile Blackspot Program, which has funded 316 Mobile Black Spot Program projects across Western Australia to date,” Minister McKenzie said.
“I’m very pleased that residents and businesses across Western Australia will soon be able to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that this project will bring in terms of digital connectivity.
“Digital connectivity is an essential part of how we work, learn, stay safe and remain in contact with loved ones. The Coalition will continue to invest in this critical infrastructure as part of our plan for a strong economy and stronger future.
“Our Government has continued to take a collaborative approach with the telecommunications industry and regional and remote communities to make sure that the funded projects are tailored to the needs of each region and are supported by the community. This approach has resulted in an opportunity to create real change in the regions.
“By contrast, Labor has not funded a single mobile tower in regional Australia, in fact they recently announced that an Albanese led government will cut $155 million from the budget for regional communications.”
Regional Connectivity Program Round 2 Projects in Western Australia:
Kalumburu, Durack ($888,140) The project will deploy a fully managed public satellite Wi-Fi and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone solution to the Aboriginal community of the Kalumburu Outstations. Mowanjum, Durack ($858,099)
The project will deploy a fully managed public satellite Wi-Fi and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone solution to the Aboriginal community of Mowanjum.
Coconut Wells, Durack ($287,600)
The project will deploy a new Telstra small cell mobile site to deliver new and improved handheld coverage to the Coconut Wells community.
Newman, Durack ($2,033,800) The project will upgrade two Telstra macro cell base stations and deploy one new Telstra macro cell base station and one new Telstra small cell base station to uplift connectivity across Newman and the nearby community of Jigalong.
Kununurra, Durack ($657,650) The project will deploy one new Telstra macro base station at Kununurra and one Telstra small cell base station at the Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture, providing new coverage to the area.
Fitzroy Crossing, Durack ($4,024,732)
The project will upgrade the nbn™ service technology in the town of Fitzroy Crossing from nbn™ Sky Muster Satellite to nbn™ Fibre to the Premises.
Mullewa, Durack ($4,119,533) The project will upgrade the nbn™ service technology in the town of Mullewa from nbn™ Sky Muster Satellite to nbn™ Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology.
Onslow, Durack ($4,478,161)
The project will upgrade the nbn™ service technology in the town of Onslow from nbn™ Sky Muster Satellite to nbn™ Fibre to the Premises.
Halls Creek, Durack ($2,911,890)
The project will construct a fixed wireless network to deliver reliable, high speed broadband services and public Wi-Fi to the remote Aboriginal communities of Balgo (Wirrimanu), Billiluna (Mindibungu), Mulan and Ringer Soak (Kundat Djaru) located in the Shire of Halls Creek in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Western Desert Aboriginal Lands, Durack ($6, 753, 000) The project will install the Western Desert Aboriginal Lands Communication Network, a broadband communications system, to service the remote Aboriginal communities of Kunawarritji, Punmu, Parnngurr and Jigalong.
Tjuntjuntjara, O’Connor ($503,789)
This project will deploy an upgraded Broadband WiFi Internet and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Telephone services to the Tjuntjunjara Community.
Ravensthorpe, O’Connor ($3,703,115)
The project will upgrade the nbn™ service technology in the town of Ravensthorpe from nbn™ Sky Muster Satellite to nbn™ Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology.
Myrup, Bandy Creek, Pink Lake South, Munglinup Camp, O’Connor ($1,106,350)
The project will deploy three new Telstra macro mobile sites and one new Telstra Small Cell mobile site. The macro sites will deliver improved voice and data connectivity at Myrup, Bandy Creek and Pink lake South and the new small cell will deliver improved voice and data connectivity at Munglinup Camp.
Harvey, Forrest ($1,042,681)
The project will upgrade two sites and deploy six new fixed wireless sites to improve broadband services in the Harvey region of Western Australia.
Busselton, Forrest ($644, 580)
The project will deploy four new fixed wireless sites and corresponding microwave and fibre backhaul to improve broadband services in the Busselton region of Western Australia.
Central Wheatbelt: Durack, O’Connor, Pearce and Canning ($2,161,200) The project is an extension of a Round 1 RCP project and will deploy a fixed wireless broadband network, comprising 11 repeater stations across six local government areas, to connect the existing CRISP wireless network to the Central, Eastern and Southern parts of the Central Wheatbelt region.
Gingin and Breera, Durack ($891,350) The project will upgrade one Telstra macro cell base station in Gingin and deploy one new Telstra macro cell base station in Breera, providing coverage to the region and extending coverage to the Brand and Great Northern Highways respectively.
Western Australia – Optus, Satellite Femto Cell Greenfields ($801,265 and the WA Government is providing a co-contribution.)
The project will deploy nine new Optus femto cells in Western Australia to provide improved mobile coverage at nine popular and remote surf beaches along the West Australian coast identified as at risk of local shark attacks.
These sites are currently un-serviced and access to emergency assistance in these locations will benefit community safety. Start and completion dates are not currently available and will be confirmed in the funding agreement. All projects will need to be completed by the end of June 2024.
The nine sites:
– Boranup Beach South, Boranup, WA
– Boranup Beach North. Boranup, WA
– Lefthanders, Gracetown, WA
– Ellensbrook Surfing Spot, Gracetown, WA
– The Womb, Gracetown, WA
– Umbies Beach, Gracetown, WA
– Injidup Bay, Yallingup, WA
– Injidup Point, Yallingup, WA
– Hamelin Bay, Karridale, WA/Boranup Beach, Boranup, WA
Mobile Blackspot Program
We have funded 316 new base stations in Western Australia under the Mobile Black Spot Program to date, with 238 of these projects already completed.
Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND)
In Western Australia 108 base stations have received funding under the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) to receive at least 12 hours back-up power, all of which are operational, and with a further 141 projects committed under Stage 2.
Under the STAND package, the Liberal and Nationals Government is upgrading telecommunications connectivity at fire service depots and evacuation centres across Australia to support their essential work. This involves the installation of NBN Co. Sky Muster satellites at rural and country fire service
depots and designated evacuation centres. There are 159 locations across Western Australia that received funding, 141 of which are currently operational.
Only the Coalition will continue to deliver for Western Australia as part of our plan to build a strong economy and a stronger future.
More information about the Regional Connectivity Program is available at: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rcp
