Telecommunication funding in Nicholls still a sore spot

By Fiona Lloyd

May 1, 2023

Over and out: Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman caught up with Avenel residents concerned about mobile coverage on Thursday, April 27.

New mobile telecommunication infrastructure investment in the federal electorate of Nicholls continues to hit a wall.

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At the 2022 federal election, independent candidate Rob Priestly released 150 pigeons at Wunghnu to highlight the underinvestment in telecommunications black spots across Nicholls.

At the time, Mr Priestly said Nicholls had received the fewest new towers in regional Victoria, while the neighbouring seat of Indi, held by independent Helen Haines, had been the “most successful seat in Victoria” at attracting funding for new mobile towers.

Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell hosted Federal Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman in the electorate last week to uncover concerns about the allocation of funds from the most recent round of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

Mr Coleman said draft guidelines for the program showed every dollar of round six of the program in Victoria and NSW was set to be spent in Labor electorates.

Mr Birrell said he would continue to fight for telecommunications funding for Nicholls.

“Regional communities deserve fast, reliable and affordable telecommunications and where black spots exist, they should be fixed,” he said.

Towns in Nicholls that have had base towers funded through previous rounds include Toolleen, Gunbower, Katunga and Graytown.