Editorial - Mobile Phone Services

Mobile Phone Services

Recently we were sent a letter from the office of Rebekha Sharkie, our federal member for Mayo that came from the Minister for Regional Services Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton MP.

The content of the letter says:

“I am pleased to advise that the Australian Government will allocate up to $200,000 to support a proposed new mobile phone base station at Cherry Gardens in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

The funding will be awarded through a competitive tender process. Similar to the Mobile Black Spot Program, the successful proposal will seek co-contributions from the South Australian Government and a mobile network operator.

The competitive tender process will be administered by the Department of Communications and the Arts. I expect this process will commence early in 2020.”

As we understand it the intent is to install a 4G Mobile service repeater on the NBN tower that is located near the boundary of the Recreation Ground and Golf Course.

As most of us already know mobile phone coverage can be a very hit and miss affair throughout Cherry Gardens and we believe the intent is to address what they refer to as “Grey Spot” (as opposed to Black Spot) mobile services where there is some coverage but it is very poor in some areas and barely acceptable in others.

Rebekha Sharkie and Steve Murray have both been a strong advocates and voices for us in trying to get funding and support from the government and telco’s to address this issue and the Cherry Chatter, along with a couple of locals have been hounding everyone to try to get some action to resolve this issue.

If the new mobile phone base station does get installed then, for those of us that are unable to connect to the NBN we may have an alternative by using the mobile service plans.

As news comes to hand the Cherry Chatter will keep you updated.

Be Bushfire Ready and prepare your plan!

A reminder that summer is now here and although as I write this it is cold and wet on the first day of Summer, we have already had a few very hot days and we can expect many more in the next few months.

Take a few minutes to prepare your Bushfire Plan. If a major bushfire is coming through our district remember that being on our roads will be extremely dangerous as we have bushland right up to the road verges and modern cars provide no protection or safety at all.

If you can’t protect your house, then leave early.

Happy Christmas and safe New Year.

Finally, Cherry Chatter also would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and safe New Year. Enjoy your holidays with family and friends and please drive carefully! See you around in 2020.