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Mobile Coverage in Treeby [Update]

Fremantle MP Josh Wilson (foreground) with Treeby residents Kathy Pritchard (bottom), Lani Slaughter (middle) and Christopher Boyce (top) at the telco tower near Amethyst and Platinum Streets.

All the residents in Calleya, Treeby knows the nightmare of having adequate movile signals. Sometimes we need to walk out to our front door just to get one bar! TCA has been working tirelessly with the Cockburn council and local telcos to get this rectified for over 2+ years and this is still on the agenda for most meetings.

Here I would like to provide some update on the enquiries that our MP Josh Wilson has came back to us regarding the mobile signals.

Following enquiries with Telstra concerning a suitable mobile tower site in Treeby, Josh has received a response advising that a preferred location has been identified and Telstra is currently preparing the necessary documentation and working through the Council application process. They have advised that the process will take some time to progress but the details and location will be released for community consultation in the next step. Please keep an eye out in local newspapers for advertisements for when the consultation process opens and closes. Josh has asked Telstra to also keep us informed of these dates. This is good news that there is progress with a real solution for mobile phone coverage for Treeby residents.

There was also a reply to Josh from MP Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications

While Josh appreciates the Minister’s office referring the concerns of Treeby residents to Mobile Network Operators and asking for assistance in investing in further mobile infrastructure in Treeby, we find suggestions from the Minister such as purchasing smart antennas and calling using Wifi impractical solutions, particularly for elderly residents. It is also disappointing to read that Treeby is ineligible to receive funding from the Morrison government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

Further to Josh’s letter in May, a second letter was sent to the Minister on 22nd July enquiring about the Morrison government’s announcement Peri Urban Mobile Program (PUMP) designed to improve mobile phone services in bushfire prone areas on peri-urban city fringes and to enquire about eligibility for Treeby. A copy of this letter is also attached and we are waiting for a response from the Minister.

 

Here are the letters from MP Wilson's office for your perusal.

Sadly, this will be an ongoing issue until the cell towers are built. Currently, most of Treeby resisdents are using Wifi-Calling features (Voice over Wifi) within their home. Purchasing legal repeaters and smart antennas are an option but an expensive one if you choose to go down that path. Otherwise, we will need to continue to wait!