Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain and Telstra representatives Christina Cawkell and Chris Taylor at a community forum in Narooma on 28 February. Photos: Marion Williams.
The inadequacies of telecommunications in regional Australia were laid bare at a community forum in Narooma. So were the shortcomings of the processes of the Federal Government and its corporate partners to improve connectivity.
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain opened the forum on Friday (28 February) by saying: “Your postcode should not be a barrier to opportunities.”
A Mystery Bay resident said it felt like Groundhog Day.
In July 2021, a similar forum was held to address mobile phone connectivity at Dalmeny and Mystery Bay.
There has been no improvement. For some people, the situation is worse.
A Dalmeny resident said his community had lost coverage since 5G came in.
“5G isn’t working in the bush. Can we go back to 3G until you get it right?” he said. “We have people living in nursing homes in Dalmeny who can’t communicate with their loved ones.”
Telstra representatives Chris Taylor and Christina Cawkell spoke at the forum and fielded questions from the audience.
In May 2022, Ms McBain made a $500,000 election commitment to improve Mystery Bay’s mobile coverage, along with $500,000 for Dalmeny and $3.5 million for the Princes Highway Corridor.
The Federal Government contracted Telstra to improve mobile coverage in 40 sites, including Dalmeny and Mystery Bay.
Mr Taylor said contracts were signed in late 2023 and work began in early 2024.
Telstra representatives showed a slide with a photograph of what the solution to improve Dalmeny’s mobile coverage looked like.
He said there had been “hiccups”, namely Telstra’s grant proposal containing errors for many sites including Dalmeny and Mystery Bay.
Mr Taylor said Telstra was contracted to deliver solutions by December 2026. That delivery date was news to several people at the forum.
Ms McBain said the projects would be delivered no matter which party was in government, but not if Telstra could not find a suitable site.
Mr Taylor said they were in discussions with a Dalmeny landowner who was willing to have a 40-metre monopole on his property. After the development application was approved by Eurobodalla Shire Council, environmental assessments and a building application would follow.
“When we make predictions, we can be more confident about outdoor coverage, but can’t guarantee what happens in people’s houses,” Mr Taylor said. That varied with things such as building materials.
Mystery Bay is problematic. Telstra’s recommended solution was small-cells technology. One would be installed eight metres above the ground in the newer part of the village and the other is a 20m monopole sitting on the street verge nearer the beach. “We need someone willing to host it.”
Telstra typically pays landowners for a 20-year lease to host a pole or tower.
One Mystery Bay resident asked whether the small-cells technology could be installed on existing power poles, something Telstra’s engineers had not considered.
Another said the contract between Telstra and the Federal Government should have had deliverable timelines, and the technical issues that Telstra was dealing with now should have already been understood.
Mr Taylor said it was impossible for Telstra to do all the feasibility work beforehand.
“If there are any changes, we have to keep going back to the department.”
Telstra showing a slide of what the proposed solution for Mystery Bay would involve.
Ms McBain said the Albanese Government had recently committed to ensuring there was a universal service obligation for mobile phones outdoors. The current universal service obligation for telco carriers only covers landlines.
A Mystery Bay resident said calls dropping out was common, even on landlines. “Voice calls are fundamental.”
A woman who runs a bed and breakfast in the Tilba area said the lack of mobile phone coverage was a year-round issue affecting her business.
Both Ms McBain and the Telstra representatives said they were frustrated by the slow progress. Ms McBain said there had been 36 natural disasters in the Eden-Monaro electorate over the past five years and good communications infrastructure was fundamental.
The forum’s only resolution was Ms McBain and Telstra agreed to provide regular, meaningful updates to community members on steps to resolve the longstanding issue of mobile black spots in Mystery Bay and Dalmeny.
The frustration among residents and business owners was palpable.
“Communications to us in the bush is a necessity,” one man said. “Why isn’t Telstra on the front foot? You should be ahead of the community and future development, not catching up with it.”
Original Article published by Marion Williams on About Regional.
