The Australian and Victorian Governments will improve mobile connectivity for 20 locations across the fringes of Greater Melbourne through the Australian Government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP).
PUMP provides funding to improve mobile connectivity in bushfire priority areas along the edges of Australia’s major cities to improve connectivity and safety.
A joint $16.2 million contribution from the Australian and Victorian Governments has been awarded to successful mobile network operators and infrastructure providers in Victoria, including Casey, Cardinia, Werribee, Melton, Whittlesea, Craigieburn, Nillumbik Shire, the Macedon and Yarra Ranges, and the Mornington Peninsula.
On Friday 22 July, Holt MP Cassandra Fernando was joined by Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland, Victorian Minister for Innovation Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford, local MPs Pauline Richards and Jordan Crugnale, Harvin Dhillon from telecommunications provider TPG and Barry Parsons from Devon Meadows Football Club at Glover Recreation Reserve in Devon Meadows, which will be the site of a connectivity tower.
The improvements would ensure local communities have access to life-saving information during emergencies, improve connectivity when help is needed, and keep people in touch with loved ones, the government said.
Ms Rowland said reliable mobile service can be the difference between life and death during emergencies.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving emergency communications and mobile connectivity right across Australia, and welcome this united commitment with the Victorian Government,” she said.
This investment in upgrades will deliver better mobile services where they are needed most, helping businesses and residents in Melbourne’s peri-urban areas to grow.
Ms Fernando said she was excited to know the tower would address the concerns of Holt residents.
“During pre-polling, a lot of the constituents that I spoke to, their biggest concerns were ‘we don’t have proper communication systems’,” Ms Fernando said.
“Having something like this and having the Albanese Labor Government actually doing what they’ve promised is fantastic. I’m so happy for our local community.”
PUMP complements the Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP), which improves mobile coverage across regional and remote Australia.
To date, 1270 mobile base stations have been funded, including more than 200 in Victoria.
Further information on PUMP, including a list of sites to receive a mobile base station, is available at infrastructure.gov.au/peri-urban-mobile-program
