An unexplained drop in mobile phone services throughout the district, Telstra profits, Optus and looming satellite mobile services are among reasons the Naracoorte Lucindale Council has rejected Telstra’s second call for ratepayer cash.

But the main reason is cost-shifting and ratepayers being asked to pay for a taxpayer funded federal government responsibility.

The issue arose for a second time at the council’s June meeting.

Cr Monique Crossling invited In2it owner Daniel Hayes to address the meeting on behalf of Telstra.

Mr Hayes explained he was a member of the Tatiara Economic Development Committee, and was originally against Telstra’s 27 mobile tower proposal which sought council funding.

Mr Hayes also highlighted the problem everyone was having with Telstra throughout the district – an unexplained drop in signal.

That included Telstra calls dropping out while driving between Naracoorte and Lucindale – apart from when the SE Field Days were being held.

Mr Hayes explained a lot of his questions had been answered, and he believed the phone towers could be shared by Optus as well as other carriers.

He suggested a $120,000 contribution for three towers at $1.5 million each, with no ongoing costs or maintenance “seems like an economic or financial no brainer to me”.

During the meeting Cr Crash Downward highlighted the profits generated by Telstra, arguing the Telco giant did not need any ratepayer funds.

Cr Downward had previously voiced concern about cost shifting, and stated that telecommunications were constitutionally the responsibility of federal government.

Later in the meeting, Cr Craig McGuire put forward a motion to support Telstra’s project – Connect Limestone Coast – and Cr Damien Ross seconded it.

“There may be a lot of questions that we will never get the answers for this,” Cr McGuire said.

“We know this opportunity is for today as the CEOs attachment to the report (says). So we do need to make a decision. I think the good does outweigh the bad. We are the fourth piece of the puzzle.”

“Fires, emergencies, $100,000 is not a lot of money.”

Cr Damien Ross said: “I believe we probably haven’t really properly engaged the community enough in regards to this question.”

“This question is an opportunity. We’ve all had our own discussions with various people in the community.”

He believed there was support in the community for the project.

Cr Cameron Grundy reflected on the ongoing attempts to “blur the lines of funding and responsibility” between all the levels of government.

“And now it seems between the levels of government and private enterprise,” said Cr Grundy, referring to Telstra’s call for ratepayer cash.

He highlighted the developments of technology through Skymuster and Starlink, and reflected on Mr Hayes’ report there were no data blackspots as a result of satellites.

Cr Grundy referred to Cr Downward’s argument that Telstra’s half yearly profit was $934 million and the telco was not short of money.

“If we agree to this, will that set a precedent with Optus?” Cr Grundy asked.

“I understand Optus are in the process of aiming for near full coverage in the South East in the future.”

Cr Abigail Goodman said she supported the merit around mobile phone black spots being addressed, “but I don’t believe that it is council’s project to support financially”.

“I would like to think that we can keep the door open for council to play a role in facilitating, negotiating, (and) advocacy as appropriate.”

Cr Goodman reflected on “many conversations” with people in the community and said everybody wanted better connectivity and phone reception.

“People have also been of the view that this shouldn’t be ratepayers’ money that goes into supporting it,” she said.

Cr Goodman said she supported Cr Grundy’s view that people having problems should contact their local members of parliament.

Cr Trevor Rayner said he would like to see a presentation from Optus before council made a decision to fund the project.

“We haven’t heard from them yet,” he said.

Cr Darren Turner said he disagreed with the motion on principle. He explained it was a first step of state and federal governments asking local governments for something that should be federally funded, and highlighted the “dangerous precedent” it set.

“The principle of asking us to fund something that should not be funded by the council, is wrong,” Cr Turner said.

Cr Peter Ireland explained he lived and farmed in what was now a black spot area. Yet he had mobile phone service five years ago.

“I think putting in another tower is not going to fix this issue,” Cr Ireland said.

“It’s a matter of the service we actually had has deteriorated. Telstra can’t give us a suitable answer as to why it’s happening.”

As a result he urged the council to think seriously about financially supporting the project and putting in more towers.

Cr Craig McGuire said he knew he was not going to win the argument, “but I feel like I had to say something”.

He indicated there was no point taking the issue up with the local member of parliament.

“Federal members have been pursuing this issue for years. This is what they’ve come up with. So this is the proposal. It is as good as it is going to get.

“So to say go and talk to the federal member – (well), this is their proposal,” Cr McGuire said.

The motion was lost 6-2 with Crs Turner, Grundy, Goodman, Downward, Ireland and Rayner against, and Crs McGuire and Ross for.

Council can reconsider

CEO Trevor Smart told The [Naracoorte Community] News that the council had now considered Telstra’s South East Regional Connectivity Program proposal on two occasions, “with the outcome being that no support for the proposal has been passed by council”.

“Council can re-consider the matter if it wishes to do so, and there is no timeline restricting this,” Mr Smart said.

“It is ultimately up to council if it wishes to reconsider any matter, and that can be based on existing or new information.

“Council considered the matter on the second occasion, largely due to updated infrastructure costings of the whole project being provided by Telstra, and this resulted in a reduced five percent proposed contribution from council – from $140,185 to $115,230.”

Mr Smart said he did not know if any city or urban areas had contributed to mobile phone services.

“I do not know the answer to that across the 67 other local government areas,” he said.

“Council has not sought information from Optus, but I do understand that there can be co-sharing of infrastructure (towers).

“I am aware that Telstra has made contact with some elected members that initially raised concerns about reduced phone services.

“With regards to increased services around (the) SE Field Days, it is my understanding that Lucindale Lions and Telstra have an arrangement where Telstra provide a temporary tower near the Field Days site to enable increased communications over that time.

“This was also done during the Triple J One Night Stand event.”

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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