New mobile towers target Western Vic blackspots

AusNet plans to build three new mobile communication towers in Western Victoria as part of the Community Benefits Program of its Western Renewables Link (WRL) project.

Currently in the development phase, the Western Renewables Link is a proposed 190 km, 500 kV, overhead high-voltage electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from near Bulgana in Western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west.

AusNet has been contracted by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to develop and deliver the WRL, which will connect wind and solar energy generators in Western Victoria to the grid, powering more than one million homes across the state.

The new mobile towers, planned for Lexton, Smeaton and Coimadai, should fix several major network blackspots, benefiting local residents and businesses as well as supporting emergency response. The WRL project has committed to invest more than $3 million on the towers.

Intended to provide improved 4G and 5G coverage, the planned installation of the new mobile base stations follows feasibility work undertaken by Telstra, which recognised the need for mobile service improvement in these locations.

Gerard Carew, AusNet General Manager, Major Projects and lead for the Western Renewables Link project, said that during the project’s ongoing consultation with the community, AusNet received feedback that fixing the mobile blackspots would be a significant benefit.

“Reliable communication is vital to modern life, such as families staying in touch with relatives, students doing homework, employees working from home and people running local businesses,” Carew said.

“These new towers will help deliver a noticeably improved connectivity experience for locals and visitors in these areas.

“Most importantly, we have been told that improving mobile connectivity will support community safety, particularly during emergencies,” he added.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Grampians Chair Michael Tudball said that the increased mobile connectivity brought by these towers would help to safeguard regional communities during future emergency events.

“Something RDA Grampians has been passionately advocating for is for providers to ensure that people can access mobile networks when they most need them,” Tudball said.

“This development is a step in the right direction and will mean more people are connected to the network and can call for assistance, or reach family, friends and neighbours in times of emergency.”

Further mobile towers will be considered along the WRL route if the project receives planning approval. AusNet is working closely with Telstra to identify additional sites to support communities with poor mobile coverage.

Image credit: iStock.com/Steven Tritton