By Casey Neill
A new phone tower should be linking East Warburton residents and visitors to the world, but some say their coverage hasn’t improved.
Casey MP Tony Smith and Yarra Ranges Councillor Jim Child met on resident John Harry’s property on Saturday 21 July to welcome a mobile phone signal to the area.
Mr Harry said the issue went back many years.
“When Black Saturday occurred it became very obvious that under bushfire conditions what little service there was disappeared completely,” he said.
“A residents meeting was convened, almost exactly five year ago, at the East Warburton school, which was attended by a very large number of people – 200 or 300 people.”
He said Telstra, Mr Smith and Cr Child received complaints about the service.
“The main reason the residents were concerned was safety,” Mr Harry said.
He said that meeting was “pretty furious” and spawned a resident steering group, which he chaired.
Mr Harry said Mr Smith was instrumental in obtaining Federal Government black spot program funding.
The tower was switched on mid-July.
“Everyone is delighted,” Mr Harry said.
“I can be in my office and people can ring me on my mobile.
“The difference even in a week has been enormous.”
But other residents weren’t so full of praise.
On Cr Child’s Facebook page, Patricia Ingram said she still had no coverage.
“We were better off with the temporary one that was here three years ago,” she said.
In November last year she told the Mail that she regularly drove to the East Warburton public hall car park to make phone calls.
She said she is not looking forward to another fire season without the benefits of mobile phone communication, including emergency apps and text messages.
Three other residents, Liz, Jennifer and Sharon, also told Cr Child they were still without reception.
“Because of the topography of the place, there’s going to be some places around East Warburton that will miss out,” he said.
“The majority of the area, I believe, will be covered.”
He encouraged those with concerns to contact Telstra and Mr Smith.
“If we’ve got something not working right, that’s got to be brought to Telstra’s notice,” he said.
Cr Child said the project came about through the joint effort of the local community, the council and Mr Smith.
Mr Smith said he was thrilled that the tower was up and operating.
“The federal funding contribution enables telecommunications carriers to build in areas that would otherwise not be economically viable,” he said.
“The improved coverage will benefit many East Warburton residents, tourists and businesses as well as improve safety.
“A big thanks also Yarra Ranges Council for also provided financial and planning assistance.”
