TOWONG Shire has been forced to use $40,000 of ratepayers’ money to clinch mobile phone towers at four remote centres including Dartmouth where coverage borders on non-existent.
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The council reluctantly agreed to a $10,000 contribution for the four sites chosen — Granya, Cudgewa, Bethanga and Dartmouth — to boost its case before the federal government.
Dartmouth locals were prepared to take an extra step to secure mobile phone coverage with a matching $10,000 of community funds.
Towong councillor and Dartmouth Hotel publican Aaron Scales said residents were prepared to do anything to eliminate the black spot.
“We think the fund needs to be looked at,” Cr Scales said.
“It was a decision of council to commit that money towards the four towers just to strengthen the case.
“Metro councils get mobile phone coverage, but here we are having to invest ratepayer money to get what is basically an essential service.
“But what choice did we have?
“We had to do it to make it happen.”
The matching Dartmouth community contribution evolved from a meeting with Telstra CountryWide regional manager Steve Tinker late last year.
The remote community has also had major issues with broadband and fixed- line services.
The $40,000 used by Towong Council on ensuring the towers were included in the initial rollout equated roughly to a 1 per cent annual rate rise.
It also comes at a time when Victorian councils including Towong are preparing for the introduction of rate-capping at the rate of inflation.
Towong rates have risen 6 per cent this financial year, with the slug among the largest in regional Victoria.
But Cr Scales said improving mobile phone reception in areas like Dartmouth was critical.
“It is shocking at the moment,” he said.
“Sometimes on the front verandah of the hotel if you cock your leg and hold your tongue right, you will get one bar and get a few messages through.
“But that is about it.”
Towong Shire is in the Indi electorate which was successful in obtaining 30 towers.
Indi MP Cathy McGowan said councils such as Towong were “between a rock and a hard place”.
“One of the criteria was demonstrated in-kind and community commitment,” she said.
“It is why we need a policy for regional and rural Australia.”