Member for Barker Tony Pasin would prefer a different funding method than the “all or nothing” approach of Telstra’s Connect Limestone Coast project.
The $40 million project involves 27 phone towers scattered across the region, each costing $1.5 million.
But the project relies on Federal funding for 50 percent of the cost.
Mr Pasin believes the current application will either win “a significant slab” of the Federal Government’s Regional Connectivity Program funding – which would be “fantastic”.
Or, there would be “none” – so no extra towers built at all.
As a result, he explained that he preferred black spot mobile phone funding for small clusters of towers, every six months, over 10 years.
Mr Pasin’s comments came during the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) in Naracoorte on August 11.
The Regional Connectivity Program – which Telstra hoped to tap into for 50 per cent of the project cost – closed the day of the meeting.
Mr Pasin gave a presentation to civic leaders via Zoom on several matters – the region’s call for radiation therapy, the threat of off-shore wind farms to the region’s fishery, a backlog and shortage of road funding, as well as the difficulties faced with various regional funding programs.
Wattle Range Council CEO Ben Gower asked if Mr Pasin had heard anything regarding “the Telstra 20 plus tower project” through his Federal circles.
Mr Pasin said if “we can secure all those towers in one foul swoop – fantastic”.
“But I did say to them (Telstra) ‘Wouldn’t you make multiple applications for smaller clusters and give yourself better prospects for success?’.
“My concern remains – what Telstra are asking is a significant slab of the overall funding.
“I just worry that it’s kind of fairly binary – all or nothing.”
Under Telstra’s current application Mr Pasin said there were only two possible outcomes.
“One was ‘Yes, approved’. Wow. Amazing. Fantastic,” he said.
But the other possible outcome was “none – no extra towers being built”.
“I have expressed in the past my desire that we have a rolling program for mobile black spots. That is funding every six months over ten years,” Mr Pasin said.
If it receives Federal funding for half the overall cost, Telstra aims to fund another 25 per cent of the cost itself.
It hopes the remaining 25 per cent will be picked up by State and local government as well as industry contributions.
As previously reported by The [Community] News, both Telstra and Optus have struck deals involving Elon Musk’s satellites. Telstra announced its association with Starlink would offer SMS messaging and wifi access to data and voice, but not mobile phone coverage.
Optus announced 100 percent mobile phone coverage – SMS by the end of next year and voice by the end of 2025.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
