Forty four Durack areas will benefit from new and improved mobile coverage.
The Federal Member for Durack, the Honourable Melissa Price is thrilled that Australia’s largest electorate with some of the most remote Australian communities has been so successful.
It has been announced today that Durack has been the most successful Australian electorate receiving funding for 44 new bases stations under Round 5 of the Morrison Government’s highly successful $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program.
“Durack regions can be confident that their business and community interests are receiving the attention they deserve benefitting from funding for improved mobile connectivity provided by these 44 new base stations,” Melissa Price said.
“From Cunderdin North in the Wheatbelt to 3 Abrolhos Islands and Drysdale River Station on the Gibb River Road in the remote Kimberley, it is important that these communities receive the best 21st century connectivity available despite their isolation,” Ms Price said.
“ It’s particularly good news at this challenging time of the conoronviarus pandemic when I know technology is proving even more vital for Durack families to connect, to access quality education, health services, and to do business globally,” Ms Price said.
The Federal Government is contributing a total of $34 million to Round 5 of the Program, which will deliver total new investment of more than $73 million together with co-contributions from the funding recipients and state governments.
The announcement of successful Round 5 locations today brings the total number of base stations being funded under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program to 1,229.
Round 5 base stations are scheduled to roll out in the coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.
To view the full list of Round 5 locations visit, or to provide feedback on the discussion paper on the design of future rounds, visit: communications.gov.au/mbsp
The Government intends that the next step in the Mobile Black Spots program will be to conduct a Round 5A, which will be used to test a range of different program designs. Funding for round 5A will be drawn from the unused portion of the funding allocated to Round 5.
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Media contact:
Rose Crane: 0427 587 395. Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au