GRANT District Council will meet with key “affected parties” to discuss a solution for patchy mobile phone coverage in the OB Flat district after electing not to contribute $50,000 towards funding for a tower in the area.
The State Government black spot funding program requires regional communities to contribute a minimum of $50,000 for a mobile phone tower expression of interest to be considered.
Council determined at its Monday meeting not to contribute $50,000 towards the OB Flat application, as it has done for the Glenburnie Saleyards, with one councillor arguing ratepayer funds would be used to largely benefit private interests.
Lack of mobile phone coverage in the OB Flat district has impacted trade at The Barn and has also hindered communication at the annual Generations in Jazz event.
At Monday’s meeting, both Mayor Richard Sage and acting chief executive officer Jane Fetherstonhaugh flagged their intentions to talk to key stakeholders in the OB Flat District about a potential funding partnership rather than just walk away from the problem altogether.
“I know the letter we got back from Minister Whetstone more or less indicated that we would have to negotiate, so I think there should be some wriggle room and an opportunity for us to go back to them and put the facts on the table and argue the toss rather than just walk away from it,” Mr Sage said.
“I am quite happy to talk to The Barn and Dale Cleves to see what we can find out and produce a report and bring it back to put pressure on the State Government and Telstra.”
Councillor Barry Kuhl said he was open to discussions, but indicated he would not support spending ratepayers’ money to assist a private individual.
“Maybe that private individual would like to come on board and submit some of their money towards it,” Cr Kuhl said.
The Barn manager Kent Comley said it would be unlikely the surrounding community would be able to raise the figure required.
“I would be dubious of the community being able to find $50,000 for it,” Mr Comley said.
“For The Barn, Generations in Jazz and other landowners, the mobile phone coverage is completely inadequate so a solution does need to be looked at and I am open to having discussions.”
As Tourism Mount Gambier chair, Mr Comley said the current substandard service was concerning for the region.
“We have a number of international and interstate visitors who come through who just cannot believe the poor level of coverage,” he said.
“I am quite hopeful there will be a solution to the problem in the near future.”
Mr Comley said he was not surprised the State Government had introduced the $50,000 contribution requirement for regional applications to be considered – a fee not charged to metropolitan communities.
“Unfortunately, it is just another tax on those living in the country,” he said.
“There are no commercial benefits for Telstra compared to metropolitan areas where they might have tens of thousands of people accessing their service.”
Council has already agreed to contribute $50,000 to fix a similar problem in the Glenburnie district, with a tower to help operations at the Mount Gambier and Districts Saleyards, speedway and racing club, which collectively attract thousands of people each year.
Telstra intends to submit an application for infrastructure funding for the Glenburnie black spot, with council to make a $50,000 contribution to the telecommunication company.
