Residents of Matcham and Holgate feel like they are living in a third world country, with appalling mobile phone coverage despite being just five minutes from Erina.
Adding to their frustration is the fact that funding for telco upgrades in the area was allocated more than two years ago by the Federal Government.
Spokesperson Rob James said residents were without power for two days during the height of the recent storms and feared being isolated again in an emergency situation.
They are pushing for a solution ahead of the fire season later this year.
“The situation is absolutely life threatening, as well as a huge inconvenience to all,” James said.
“We are just sweating on these new mobile towers so we can get reception urgently.
“My wife and I are with Vodafone but all services are terrible or non-existent.
“It’s not good for emergencies like bushfires, or for running a business as I do.
“Our Telstra Wi-Fi is not much better, going in and out.”
In the 2022/23 Federal budget, $1.5M was earmarked from mobile black spot funding for upgrading mobile infrastructure at Matcham/Holgate and Wyoming.
Member for Dobell Emma McBride told Coast Community News on June 2 that Telstra had been awarded the funding to support building a new base station in the area.
“The deployment of mobile phone base stations is a complex process and involves a number of separate phases, including site inspection, detailed design, planning approvals, site acquisition, construction and final activation,” she said.
“As well as Telstra constructing the base station, a number of external parties are directly and indirectly involved in the deployment process.
“These other parties include landowners, local communities, local councils, state government departments, power authorities, other mobile network operators, equipment manufacturers and infrastructure providers.
“Telstra has been working to progress the deployment of the Matcham/Holgate project and has investigated a number of suitable site locations that would optimise mobile coverage to the area.
“However, Telstra is still seeking a landowner, at a suitable site location, who is willing to have the base station constructed on their property.
“In order to support the progress of the project, the community could encourage local landowners of suitable sites to proactively engage with Telstra and support the construction of the mobile base station on their property.
“Until agreement can be reached with a landowner of a suitable site, no other phases of the deployment can proceed, such as a Development Application submission.”
McBride said Telstra’s current estimated timeframe for the Matcham/Holgate project was for the base station to be operational in 2026, subject to securing a suitable site and the later deployment phases progressing without delay.
But residents say that is too long to wait.
James has suggested a Broadband Connectivity Drone as an interim measure until a full tower can be provided.
The drone was demonstrated in collaboration with NSW Rural Fire Services, ACT Emergency Services Agency and technology partner Vocus at the Eurobodalla Hot Fire Training Facility in Bimbimbie recently.
According to the NSW Government website, the drone experiment tested the creation of temporary large-area cellular, Wi-Fi and Land Mobile Radio networks, using a combination of drone and satellite backhaul technology to provide critical communications services in emergency situations.
Functioning as an aerial mobile tower, the drone provided up to 28 square kilometres of 4G/5G and two-way radio connectivity.
It is capable of remaining airborne indefinitely while tethered to a ground-based power source and can provide LTE coverage for up to a three kilometre radius in heavy bushland.
James said such an interim measure could provide reassurance for the community.
“Why not base it at Matcham/Holgate bushfire brigade?” he said.
“And why not put the new tower there too?
“It might give our RFS a boost with lease money.
“The RFS and its members need the connectivity just as much we residents do; it makes sense to me.”
James said connectivity wasn’t the only problem faced by the community in emergency situations.
Previous storms have seen people washed off the causeway in their vehicles and even a fatality.
“We had a heavily pregnant woman unable to get out and people not being able to get to work including doctors and vets,” he said.
“We’ve had women sleeping in the cars at the end of Oak Rd because they couldn’t get home.
“We’ve had people sleeping in their cars at McDonald’s Erina for the same reason.
“McDonald’s has been kind enough to let people use the bathrooms and park where the security camera is.”
James said residents were pushing for a commitment from Council to keep the causeway cleared of debris and put in better bridges.
“We are planning on bigger meetings, placards and signs, and ongoing pressure,” he said.
Terry Collins
