Big call for Gracetown phone tower
The WA Government is expected to announce comprehensive funding for a critically important telecommunications tower at Gracetown today.
The news will be revealed during a visit to Gracetown by Regional Development Minister and local MLA Terry Redman and Finance Minister Michael Mischin.
The tower replaces a temporary phone booster installed at Gracetown this week to address long-running phone coverage problems which have hindered emergency responses to shark attacks, bushfires and the 1996 Gracetown cliff collapse.
The announcement follows pledges made by Mr Redman and Vasse MLA Libby Mettam during last year's Vasse by-election for a tower to be installed as the number one priority for the second stage of the Government's Royalties for Regions-backed Regional Mobile Communications Project.
Mr Redman told the _Times _the Gracetown service should be in place by June, though costs associated with the project were not released by Telstra, which would install the tower with taxpayer funding boost.
"In October last year, I promised the Gracetown community that this tower was a priority of the Royalties for Regions funded RMCP and it's fantastic to finally be in a position to confirm the tower will be in operation by the middle of this year," Mr Redman said.
"The lack of mobile phone coverage in this area has put at risk the safety of locals and visitors unable to contact emergency services and impacted on local businesses for too long now."
Gracetown Progress Association president John James awaited today's news "with bated breath".
"It has been a long wait of more than 10 years by the community, visitors to the town and the various emergency agencies," Mr James said.
"To many it will be like the end of the war, a war of silence and neglect. We can but celebrate the event."
Mrs Mettam said support for the tower was an acknowledgement of the black-spot problems, and new towers at Gracetown and another planned for Wilyabrup would resolve many difficulties along Caves Road.
"This is an issue that I raised during the last election campaign as I believe good mobile coverage is crucial to doing business better and addressing emergency situations in your area," she said.
Mrs Mettam also said improved telecommunications could boost the local economy and produce jobs by increasing the access for tourism and innovative industries.
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