The Albanese Labor Government will invest in mobile telecommunications infrastructure upgrades to help local communities in Blair stay better connected during natural disasters.
Funding is being provided for Telstra’s Amberley Exchange in Ipswich and Telstra’s Esk Exchange in the Somerset Region to invest in Battery Capacity Upgrades and Automatic Transfer Units at mobile base stations.
This will deliver new batteries with 12 to 20 hours capacity and Automatic Transfer Units, allowing the sites to easily connect to portable generator systems, a process that normally relies on specialist technicians to facilitate.
This is a huge boost for local emergency services who operate auxiliary power systems and support the rapid restoration of power to a site during and after natural disasters.
The two local projects are part of $9.8 million in new connectivity upgrades to support local communities through Round 3 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) to improve safety and resilience for natural-disaster prone areas.
More than 300 upgrades will be delivered in regional, remote and outer urban areas to strengthen mobile telecommunications services, reducing the risk of outages and improving restoration times during and after a natural disaster.
Round 3 outcomes bring the total number of MNHP funded projects to 1,657. All 968 round 1 projects and 386 round 2 projects are now complete. Decisions about the round 3 upgrades were made prior to the caretaker period.
Under round 2, 12 projects were funded in Ipswich and the Somerset Region where Optus undertook microwave capacity and router equipment upgrades to improve mobile network resilience, and reduce the risks of service outages during disasters.
Since coming to office, the Albanese Government has committed more than $340 million to improve mobile coverage and the resilience of communications networks against natural disasters, with more than 950 resilience projects delivered this term.
This includes the recent announcement of an additional $14 million to extend critical community Wi-Fi services at evacuation centres across Australia, through the Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) program.
Prior to this, in late 2022, the Albanese Government delivered a new backup NBN Sky Muster satellite dish in Kilcoy under the STAND program to help the Somerset Region better prepare for natural disasters.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the safety of Australians was the number one priority of the Albanese Labor Government, particularly during natural disasters which were becoming more frequent and severe.
“Round 3 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program will provide additional funding to help communities around Amberley in Ipswich and around Esk in the Somerset Region to stay safe and informed when they need it the most,” Mr Neumann said.
“A re-elected Federal Labor Government will also legislate a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation that uses next generation satellites to provide basic mobile connectivity and Triple Zero access, even when land-based networks are down.
“The Liberals and Nationals have mindlessly rushed to oppose our plan, once again placing petty politics above the safety of Australians.
“Labor will not leave Australians to fend for themselves when it comes to public-safety connectivity.
“Resilient communications and broadcasting networks are vital for keeping communities safe, informed, and connected, particularly during emergencies.
“No communications network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, and we have seen again over the summer and the recent ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred weather event the impact of energy outages when strong winds take down powerlines.
“This is why the Albanese Labor Government has invested so heavily in improving communications network resilience.
“We want people in outer urban areas like Ipswich and regional areas like the Somerset to know that we have their backs when it comes to public safety.”
