GRANT District Council has given the go-head for a stopgap communications solution at the Glenburnie Saleyards, which has been plagued by patchy mobile phone coverage.
While council will continue to push for blackspot funding for a communications tower in the Glenburnie area, elected members have rubber-stamped the installation of a Telstra 4G small cell system at the saleyards.
Council has earmarked around $6000 for the upgrade, which will be dependent on a site survey, how many calls it can handle as well as upload and download capacity.
South East farmer Paul Chiesa – who was at the saleyards on Wednesday – welcomed news council was responding to the mobile phone issues at the facility.
“If I am not here and need to make a call to a stock agent sometimes I can not get through,” Mr Chiesa said.
“They either do not buy or they might buy incorrectly.”
Considering the significant money flowing through the livestock exchange each week, Mr Chiesa said mobile phone coverage was paramount.
“It is simple, they just need to stick a tower up somewhere close,” the producer said.
“I have only been involved in the industry for a couple of years but it has always been an ongoing problem for me.
“It has really surprised me as it is such a key part of the infrastructure these days – it is just as important as pens and concrete.”
According to a council report tabled this week, the local government body regularly received complaints about the Telstra mobile phone coverage.
“It is either patchy or lack of coverage in various parts of the complex or intermittent drop-outs during calls in progress,” the report said.
The issue has been discussed at the most recent meeting of the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Advisory Committee.
Acting chief executive officer Jane Fetherstonhaugh said the supplier of the small cell had estimated the system should cover around a 500 metre radius.
“It says it will go to the weighbridge and will cover the majority of the yards – but it would be subject to a site survey.”
Mayor Richard Sage has discussed the need for funding with Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone for a communications tower.
“We need to continue to advocate for mobile blackspot funding,” Mr Sage said.
