Funding to improve connectivity resilience in Winton

July 1, 2021

Winton will be better prepared when disaster strikes with an injection of almost $1.3 million from the Australian Government to boost the resilience of broadband and telecommunications services, Maranoa MP David Littleproud announced today.

The Australian Government is continuing its commitment to the recovery of North Queensland communities impacted by the 2019 Monsoon Trough with an investment of over $14 million in telecommunications and energy improvement grants across the 14 Local Government Areas hardest hit.

The North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants program will fund 2 projects in Winton to upgrade existing technologies and adapt new technologies to provide essential telecommunications services.

Maranoa MP David Littleproud said the projects will create jobs, help local businesses and improve the reliability and affordability of services in the region.

“These projects, which have been identified by the local council, will make a big difference to the Winton community and will not only help us to recover but will strengthen us to deal with impacts of future challenges, including natural disasters,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants will provide $495,577 for Telstra to install a new macro base station at Olio, extending Telstra’s mobile coverage north from Winton towards Corfield and eventually Hughenden.

“$800,000 will be invested in the Winton Broadband and Telecommunications Resilience upgrade, which will provide Winton with better resilience for broadband and telecommunications during natural disaster events or accidental damage to the fibre trunk line anywhere between Brisbane and Winton.

“The projects funded under the program will make a big difference to regional communities and businesses generally, and especially so during a natural disaster.

“While we’re very experienced at preparing for cyclones, floods and the like, we can be even better prepared if we can get the right information at the right time.

“For example, reliable Wi-Fi coverage makes possible the use of remote access flood gauges. This sort of information is essential for producers to know when to move stock and equipment and for councils to plan road closures,” Mr Littleproud said.

More than $13 million has been allocated to 21 telecommunications projects and almost $1 million to two energy projects under the North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants program.

These grants are one of five Australian Government measures totalling $60 million that support the implementation of the region’s long-term recovery strategy.

For more information on the Strategy and the grant opportunities, visit: https://www.recovery.gov.au/flood-recovery