By Danielle Kutchel
A small step is being taken to rectify long-standing phone reception issues in Clyde.
Optus will install a new phone tower at Casey Fields after Casey Council agreed to the telco’s proposal at its council meeting on Tuesday 16 June.
The facility will be 5G enabled and is expected to improve coverage in the area.
According to a council officers’ report, Optus will lease part of the land at Casey Fields from the council and will remove an existing 18-metre floodlight pole at Casey Fields, replacing it with a 41.7-metre pole.
The floodlights will be reinstalled on the new pole at its existing elevation in accordance with the council’s instructions.
It’s the latest step in an ongoing saga for residents in nearby Clyde and Clyde North, who struggle to get mobile reception.
In March, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale launched a petition to the federal government for the provision of better mobile services in the area.
She said many residents had complained to her about the issue.
She welcomed the news Optus was putting up a tower at Casey Fields, but said she had concerns over whether it would be enough to reach all residents in the rapidly growing area.
“It is a good start that Optus are seeking a lease to put up a tower at Casey Fields. I would be keen to hear of their tower plans for the entire 3978 [postcode] area and will discuss this with them directly.
“My concern is if the Vodafone tower is anything to go by, the reception radius won’t get very far into the community of Clyde and Clyde North where it is desperately needed and is a serious mobile blackspot.”
Ms Crugnale called on the Federal Government to step in and sort out the problem, saying she had not received a response from the Federal Communications Minister to the March petition.
“I have heard too many stories these last two years and it is time the federal government stepped up and sorted this and stopped coming up with excuses – it is their responsibility.
“It seems they are blaming everyone – but the community has really had enough and just want it sorted.
“People can’t ring their school, telehealth appointments drop out, ringing 000 drops out, businesses struggle, we have tradies working trying to coordinate deliveries, concrete trucks pouring slabs everywhere that are bound by time. We are not in the middle of nowhere here.”
Telstra regional general manager Loretta Willaton confirmed that the telco was also seeking to build a site at Casey Fields.
“We’ve been trying to build a new mobile site at Casey Fields for some time,” she said.
“We’ve faced delays getting approval from the local council which means it’s taken us longer than we would’ve liked.”
Telstra has agreed to co-locate its 4G and 5G site with another new carrier at the oval, which is expected to provide better Telstra services for residents.
“We’re on track to deliver this new site as soon as possible,” Ms Willaton said.
