Maranoa MP: Digital connectivity boost coming to Lundavra

April 21, 2020

A Telstra tower will be installed at Lundavra – funded through Round Five of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme – handing the community more options in how they conduct business and travel, Maranoa MP David Littleproud said.

“I promised before being elected to improve mobile coverage and in the last term I secured 35 new towers. An additional 11 across Maranoa builds on the Federal Government’s commitment to improve connectivity across regional Australia,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Installing a mobile tower at Lundavra is a strategic decision because it provides a new level of confidence and convenience for users who live in the area and for people on the roads.

“Whether a farmer needs to contact a rural supplies store to order wire or a family has a flat tyre on the road, better mobile coverage is a huge boost for businesses and brings peace of mind.

“This gives businesses, locals and visitors more choices in how they live their lives and is a great opportunity to not only stay up to speed with education, news and contacting loved ones but also calling for help in an emergency.

“Breaks in our communications hinder emergency services, tourism and business – that’s why this program is so important for Maranoa and why I’ve been advocating so hard on this issue.”

The announcement, made by Mr Littleproud, the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Hon Paul Fletcher, and Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, Hon Mark Coulton, comes as more than $836 million is being invested in new mobile infrastructure across the Mobile Black Spot Program’s five rounds.

“More than 77 per cent of the 1047 base stations funded through the first four rounds of the Program are now complete taking us past the 800 mobile base station milestone,” Minister Fletcher said.

Eleven base stations under Round 5 in Maranoa are scheduled to roll out in the coming months and are expected be activated by the end of the year.

“Our Mobile Black Spot program is connecting regional communities and businesses, enabling them to contribute more effectively to our local, regional and national economies,” Minister Coulton said.

More information about the program is available at: communications.gov.au/mbsp.

The Federal Government is contributing a total of $34 million to Round 5 of the Program.

ENDS