Deputy PM To Work With Woodstock On Phone Coverage

Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, says he will work with the Woodstock community on the poor mobile phone reception in the area. Mr McCormack’s comments come after the Woodstock Progress Association publicly called upon Telstra and the Federal Government to resolve the black spot in the village of Woodstock.

“I will continue to work with the Woodstock community to improve telecommunications services in the area and the wider Cowra Shire region,” Mr McCormack said.

“There have already been a number of mobile phone towers installed around the Woodstock area through the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, including Optus towers in nearby Wyangala and Mount McDonald, but we know more needs to be done to address black spots in rural and regional Australia.”

Woodstock Progress Association Presi-dent Alison Rutledge said the Woodstock Show was grappling with how to register an expected 4,000 patrons in September, when there is no Telstra coverage to allow the use of a Covid-safe QR code.

“The only way to make a Telstra call in Woodstock is to drive up the hill on the edge of town where you can get a patchy line to the mobile phone tower at Cowra, 23 kilometres away,” she said.

Mr McCormack said he encouraged the community to keep their voices up and en-sure they were heard about the issue.

“I encourage the Woodstock community to also work with the Cowra Shire Council to lobby telecommunications providers and licensed infrastructure providers for improved services, taking advantage of any subsidy programs being offered by the Federal and State Governments,” he said. Representatives from Telstra said at a recent forum in Cowra they were aware of the mobile blackspot in Woodstock and would work on a solution with all levels of government.

• Topics:
• Community
• Science / Technology